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IT'S UP TOYOU! 

J^oJjfeis vam wAai e'er ihep aire 
§^/jvjnJ he, 
^Aen -worAj/oizr waj/J^rom dayiodou/ 



Jij^ ^ocl^ ^jf^i Le,shwed m love 
(f^om dep^A^ ie/owpu^A on aLove-' 



/-'w^w^ju?, iAoJitcuo l-y^ 







ij aai)pmesJ ^ 



Author of "Democracy and Direct 
Legislation", "The Philippines and 
the Purpose", "7 he Triune Harp", 
"Facts in a Nutshell About Immigra- 
tion — Yellow and White"; Etc. 







Copyright, 1913. 

By ARETAS W. THOMAS. 

Great Britain rights reserved. 

All rights reserved by the author. 



APR -2 1914 



©CI,A369530 



Home Tree Publishing Company 

WASHINGTON. D. C. 



THE TENNY PRESS 
PRINTERS 

NEW YORK. N.Y 



PREFACE. 



Concerning "Old Time Folks" (Part I of this book), 
it is to be remembered that the people are dead of 
whom the verses therein are written. They died sev- 
eral thousand years, ago; and yet the story of their 
lives and their ways is more or less familiar to us ; 
therein we behold their virtues and their foibles, their 
strong traits and their weaknesses — much the same as 
those of the men and women of our day. 

So why not laugh about them once in a while! A 
laugh is one of the best things in the world, provided 
it bears no scorn nor malice. There will be no "kick" 
coming from Abraham, nor Moses, nor Samson, nor 
Jonah. Moreover, who knows but some of those 
worthies, somewhere in the universe, laugh at the 
queer things we do sometimes ! 

7 



The charm and interest in the old-time Scriptural 
narrations are due, to a considerable extent, to the per- 
sistent human nature there manifest. Shadowy gulfs 
of time lie between the ancient and the modern world ; 
but human nature changes not, and thereby the ages 
are bridged. In imagination we stand face to face 
with the patriarchs, the sages, the heroes and the 
weaklings of Ancient Days ; and we recognize the fact 
that we are linked to them by the humanities and char- 
acteristics inherent in all men and in all times. 

And thus it comes to pass that when we laugh at 
the Ancients, we laugh at ourselves — and therein lies a 
philosophy ! 

As for the verses or poems in "Moods and Rhymes" 
(Part II), they were written under variant conditions 
of time and place — when the mood was on. Now 
moods proceed from depths immeasureable — the 
depths of heredity, of circumstance, and, sometimes 
from the unfathomed Soul expressed by the face of 
Nature. Moods arising from the latter source are 
given to man to be given out again and, according 
as they are voiced, life tends toward success or failure. 

8 



Necessarily moods present the gay, the sad, the pas- 
sionate, or self-poised moments of life; they exhibit 
also the settled or changeful conditions of doubt or 
hope in each life. 

When moods break forth into written expression, 
into rhymes, or verse or poetry — they vary from the 
atrociously bad to that which is of worth and beauty. 
No special merit is claimed for what is presented in 
"Moods and Rhymes." Whoso reads the same can 
cast aside what is worthless, and retain unto himself, 
or herself, whatever may be of interest to the mood 
of the passing moment. 

ARETAS. 
"Home Tree," 

November, 1913. 



CONTENTS 



PART ONE. 

It's Up To You (Illustration) 5 

The First Sin 19 

Nebuchadnezzar — The "Simple Life" 26 

Vanitatum Vanitas 29 

Sarah's Wrath and Hagar's Flight 31 

Pharaoh 34 

The Backward Look 37 

Daniel In The Den 40 

In Defense of Cain 42 

The Witch of Endor 49 

The Queen of Sheba 51 

Jacob's Wrongs and Esau's Luck 53 

Noah and the Kangaroo 59 

"The Order of Melchizedek" 62 

Sampson's Fate 65 

Methuselah 69 



11 



CONTENTS— Continued. 

The Sun of Gibeon 73 

The Whale's Hoodoo ^^ 

David and Goliath 80 

The Elijah Bears— And the "Teddy Bears" 81 

Uriah's Mistake 84 

Ham is Ham 87 

Job— The Man That Was a Man 91 

PART TWO. 

Home Tree (Illustration) 102 

Home Tree 103 

Julia's Eyes 104 

A Toast to the Stars 108 

Marlin and I no 

The Child's Questions 114 

Self Migrations 116 

The Gas Bill 118 

Democracy 120 

The Maid Betrayed 122 

The Waves' Refrain 125 

The Mood Makes the Man 126 

A Boston Idyl 128 

The Dry Fount i33 



12 



CONTENTS— Continued. 

Prairie and Thought 134 

The Best of Men 136 

Awake to Liberty 138 

Cold Cash 140 

The Poet's Lament 142 

The Redbreast 144 

Jesse James' Bad Shot 146 

The Shell of Things 149 

The Mystery 151 

The Answer 153 

The Time of the Gods 155 

The Helping Hand 156 

I Love You So 159 

The Old Love and the New 161 

The Last Request of Socrates 163 

The Dome of Liberty 165 

The Mastery 166 

The "Breakers" and Brotherhood 168 

The "Chinee Chlistian" 171 

The Way of Hope 173 

The "Lunger's" Fate 175 

Old Age 178 

Marconigrams 180 

13 



CONTENTS— Continued. 

Fond Brown Eyes i8i 

Grand Black Eyes 182 

Eyes of Blue 183 

The White House and the Circus 184 

Priest and Star 187 

Night and No Morn 191 

Self 193 

The Soul of Nature I94 

The Light of Love 196 

The Victory Within 198 

Law of Kind Thought 200 

Rebirth 202 

Love's a Mirage 203 

Out of the Depths 205 

I Love but Thee 207 

The Best Pall ' 208 

The Leaf 209 

Conquest of Pain , 211 

God's Comforters 213 

Mr. Wasp and Miss Bee 214 

Help the Blind 217 

The Undertow 219 

Creative Thought 221 

14 



CONTENTS— Continued. 

Love is Complete 223 

Old Hoss Eye 224 

The Old Man's Dream 228 

Life Begun 231 

The Prophet's Voice 233 

The Temperance Way 235 

A Woman's Love 237 

Love's Way 240 

The Rocky Slope 242 

The Heritage 244 

Her Answer 246 

The Living Word 248 

What Wrote He in the Sand ? 249 

"Kids" and "Square Men" . . . ■. 252 

Augustus and Anna 254 

The Husband Bereaved 258 

The Book 259 



15 



PART ONE 

Old Time Folks 

By 

Aretas 



THE FIRST SIN. 



"lATHEN the Serpent did beguile 

Eve, our mother, with his smile, 
Then began that fond "first sin" 
That since then has hemmed us in. 

This is how the trouble rose, 
Written down by one who knows: 

Sweet the flowers of Paradise; 
Climate balmy, mild and nice; 
Never cloud nor storm yet seen, 
All was blissful and serene. 

Sang the birds among the trees. 
Our "First Parents" took their ease ; 
Not a thing all day to do. 
Neither care nor woe they knew. 



19 



Fruit for breakfast from the boughs ; 
Milk dripped down from Eden cows; 
And fresh loaves of Eden bread 
Hung on branches overhead. 



There they lived on "Easy Street", 
Were "on velvet", so to speak; 
Holy Angels through the night 
Guarded them from all affright. 



Such the home God made for man, 
All adjusted to the plan 
Of non-Sin, and Innocence; 
It was simply grand, immense! 



But Old Satan squirmed his way 
To the Garden wall one day, 
"This looks good to me", he said, 
Lifting high his mottled head. 

20 



"I can never climb that wall, 
"Through that hole I'll slip and crawl!' 
Easy "sneak" it was to him — 
Sound asleep the Cherubim ! 



Walking then upon his tail, 
Head high up, "I shall not fail", 
Satan said, "to find this Eve — 
"Ah, there she comes, I do believe !" 



"Morning, Eve!" the Serpent said. 
Bowing low his flattened head; 
"You look sweet enough to eat; 
"My, what pretty little feet!" 



Eve she curtesied quite low, 
Had no shoes on then, you know ; 
In fact she thought it was no sin 
To be clothed in her own skin. 

21 



Never blush nor thought of shame 
Her chaste presence there o'er came ; 
Satan looked with great surprise 
In the depths of her blue eyes. 

All that took place I can't state ; 
But 'tis said that Eve she ate 
Apples from the Knowledge Tree 
Satan gave to her quite free. 



Eve then hastened back to where 
Adam picked the Howers fair; 
Adam looked up with a smile, 
"Eve where were you all this while?" 



Not a word then Eve replied, 
But she snuggled to his side; 
Adam clasped her in his arms, 
Gazing chastely on her charms. 

22 



"Eve", he said, "you look so queer; 
"Tell me, tell me, darling dear, 
"Is not life and joy complete!" 
Kissing her on mouth so sweet. 

Eve, her eyelids dropped quite low, 
Sobbing softly, as you know 
All her daughters now can do 
When they have some end in view. 

"I wish, Adam, you would now 
"Eat an apple from yon bough; 
"I have eaten one or two — 
"And I've found out something new. 

"But Eve, darling!" Adam said, 
"The command of God o'erhead — 
" 'All is yours within the wall, 

" 'Touch not apples lest ye fall!' " 

23 



Flashed the eyes of Eve with light, 

"Truly, Adam, my delight 

"Is to do the very things 

"That the Angels who have wings 

"Say we must not do at all ; 
"I care not for any 'fall' ; 
"Are we not as great as they, 
"I believe it, anyway ! 

"Here's an apple, picked for you, 
"Take and eat it, with me too; 
"I don't care, I think it's mean 
"To refuse me, your bride-queen!" 

Pale was Adam (he had grit) 
"Eve", said he, "I will do it; 
"I will break God's dread command, 
"I will take it from your hand." 

24 



Shudders Earth through deeps and caves, 
Adam eats — all fate he braves — » 

"Eve, I love you, now I know 
"Why you tried to tempt me so !" 

Thus you see the "first sin" came — 
Snake and woman both to blame — 
Adam he just had to fall. 
Couldn't help it— that is all! 




25 



NEBUCHADNEZZAR — THE "SIMPLE 
LIFE." 



XJEBUCHADNEZZAR, the strange old king, 

He did the queerest kind of thing ; 
Out in the fields he grazed on grass — 
The Bible says, "it came to pass". 



For seven years he chewed his cud, 
And lived out doors in dew and mud ; 
He left his throne, his home, his wife, 
He lived alone — the "simple life". 

Great King he was; Monarch Supreme 
Of palaces that like a dream 
Midst gardens fair were hung in air 
Above a winding river there. 

26 



Nebuchadnezzar, whom none could dare 
To disobey, or question there ; 
Cast off his clothes from crown to socks, 
And grazed on grass just like an ox. 

Great King of Kings, his name a star 
That shone resplendent from afar ; 
To him all bowed and rendered praise 
And yielded homage in those days. 

From luxury and fame he fled. 

To thrilling charms of love was dead ; 

He cared for naught, it's true, alas ! 

He roamed the fields and lived on grass. 

He browsed with head close to the ground 
From day to day in ceaseless round; 
He sought not war, he sought not strife — 
He simply lived the "simple life". 

27 



Why did he this— was it a "fad". 
Or was his mind supremely mad? 
Was it some kind of old "health cure" 
The doctors told him to endure? 

It's hard to say at this late day 
What made him live in that queer way- 
For "simple life" none can surpass 
Nebuchadnezzar who ate grass! 



Mi^ 



28 



VANITATUM VANITAS. 



a A LL is over, I'm all in ! 

I have tried all kinds of sin; 
Every pleasure, passion strong, 
Wine and women and sweet song — 
And I say to all, Alas! 
Vanitatum Vanitas!" 



"I, the king, great Solomon, 
Wisest man e'er sun shone on! 
All the knowledges and good, 
All the secrets understood — 
And I say to all, Alas ! 
Vanitatum Vanitas!" 

29 



Rather strange that such should be 
Dying words of him, you see, 
Who had every wish fulfilled 
That he ever dreamed or willed — 
Gasping out, "Alas ! Alas ! 
Vanitatum Vanitas!" 



Is it true, is there no way 
To be happy every day, 
From the time of our first breath 
To the moment of our death — 
Will our last words be, "Alas ! 
Vanitatum Vanitas!" 




30 



SARAH'S WRATH AND HAGAR'S 
FLIGHT. 



QARAH "fired" her through the door, 

"Go!" she said, "come back no more! 
"You vile thing, and infant son! 
"Now I know what Old Abe done ! 



"I have stood it long enough ! 
"I tell you it's mighty tough, 
"I, his lawful wedded wife ! 
"I'll fix him, you bet your life! 

"I will snatch his gray head bare; 
"I won't leave a single hair 
"In his long, old holy beard — 
"I'll fix him, I ain't afeard! 

31 



"As for you, vamoose the ranch, 
"You and Ishmael, root and branch! 
"To the desert you shall go 
"Where the blistering simoons blow I" 

Ah, the wrath of woman's scorn, 
Fiercest passion that is born 
In the festering heart of hate, 
Fires of hell there to create! 



Hopeless, Hagar wandered on. 
Hugging close her infant son ; 
On o'er deserts dry and hot — 
Just what happened I've forgot. 

And the Bible don't tell now 
Of the racket and the row 
That was raised in Abram's tent 
After Hagar helpless went. 

32 



But in time all was serene, 
Hagar, Ishmael, back were seen, 
Fat and happy in that land, 
Part of Abram's household band. 

Anyway, it's plain to see 
There's no change in jealousy; 
It blows hot, and love grows cold. 
Just the same as in days old. 




83 



PHARAOH. 



¥ HAVE stood by Pharaoh, 

Remcses, who long ago 
Oppressed Jews on every hand 
In that far off Egypt land. 



I saw him erect and proud, 
Grim in death, in ancient shroud ; 
And his leathery, mummied nose 
Looked quite scornful in repose. 

Then a Hebrew banker said, 
Pointing to the shrivelled dead, 
"You old villain, what you did 
"To us by the Pyramid, 

34 



"Is a shame to tell or know, 

"But for ages down below 

"You have shovelled sulphur hot; 

"I am glad— it's not forgot!" 



Came to me in vision rare 
Scenes of Egypt, grand and fair ; 
Fields and temples by the Nile- 
Ages, ages passed meanwhile. 

Wondrous vision! taking in 
History of good and sin ; 
Days of grandeur and decay, 
All appeared and passed away. 



Millions lived and millions died 
In that time-worn valley wide ; 
And down in the Pyramid 
Pharaoh's body there was hid. 

35 



Out of darkness of the past 
Profane hands brought him at last 
To a place on Britain's Isle 
In a splendid Marble Pile. 



But through all the vision long, 
On the weak and on the strong, 
Shone the smile of God on High — 
Sunshine bright as days passed by. 



Why should men then cherish hate 

For the ways of any fate ! 

Is it true that down in hell 

God burns those who sinned and fell I 

Still with haughty, stony stare 
Proud old Pharaoh stands there; 
And his leathery, mummied nose 
Looks quite scornful in repose. 

36 



THE BACKWARD LOOK. 



f\ F ALL the cities of the plain, Old Sodom was the 
worst ; 

She's buried now 'neath sulphur rain and fiery earth- 
quake's burst — 

For God, Himself, could not forgive such doings and 
disgrace ! 

With one quick jolt He blotted her clean off the 
planet's face. 

It got so bad no one was safe by day or by the night ; 
They stood in crowds about vile dens; they jeered at 

Angels bright 
Who came one day to visit Lot, to tell him what to do, 
To gather all the righteous there — their number was 

but few. 



37 



I wouldn't like to mention here what then was said and 

done 
By righteous Lot and that bad lot of hoodlums after 

fun; 
But it is well to think a bit of flight of Lot and wife, 
And the strange plight she found herself as fled she 

for her life. 

"Git up, and git! shake Sodom's dust from off your 

feet! 
"And don't look back ! turn not your head !" the Angels 

oft repeat. 
Quick time they made along the pike, and all was 

going well, 
Whilst back o'er Sodom hung the clouds of burning, 

fiery hell. 

But Mrs. Lot she quite forgot the Angels' words, no 

doubt ; 
She wondered if from pantry door the cat was safe 

locked out; 
"The clothes I've washed and hung on line will simply 

be no good ! 
"I wonder if Tve got the time" — and there mere salt she 

stood! 

38 



A little twist of head around, a backward glance of 
eye, 

And there Lot's wife a hag of salt all petrified and dry, 

A warning stood ; and stands to-day in that Death Val- 
ley there — 

"Flee ye from sin, but look not back !" it's silence doth 
declare. 




DANIEL IN THE DEN. 



'Y'OUNG Daniel said that he would not 

Cease then to God to bow ; 
The King himself is now forgot — 
But all know Daniel now. 

A blooming youth, unarmed, with bare 
And tender limbs in view; 
They thrust him in to lions there 
Who roared for flesh to chew. 

The lions ceased their hungry roar 
And rolled around content ; 
They didn't fight, they growled no more 
When Daniel in there went. 

40 



For there he stood, fearless, at ease, 
Each lion did observe ; 
They purred and rubbed against his knees 
Because he "had his nerve." 

And his mere look made fierce eyes blink; 

Their hunger to forget; 

He was no circus man, I think, 

But he had nerve, you bet ! 

He made the King take back his vow, 
Release him there and then; 
So "keep your nerve", and stand ye now 
Like Daniel in the den ! 




41 



IN DEFENSE OF CAIN. 



TN the dawning days of time 

Came that dreadful, awful crime, 
Death of Abel at Cain's hands. 
The first bloodshed of all lands. 



And I want to tell it straight. 
For believe me that of late 
Certain critics make the claim 
That poor Cain was all to blame. 



I, myself, no malice bear 
To the parties, either, there ; 
Naught would I extenuate, 
Simply truth I seek to state. 

42 



And these critics point with scorn 

Unto Cain, the first born ; 

As for Abel they all say 

He was faultless day by day. 

"Abel lived a holy life, 
"Pure and gentle, free from strife; 
"And he was so kind and meek !" 
Thus the critics daily speak. 

It is strange how meekness wrath 
Often brings as aftermath; 
Simple goodness, innocence. 
Is itself sometimes offence. 

Not that it is right, you know, 
But it "riles" a fellow so 
When your brother or some "guy" 
Makes no answer nor reply 



To the hot words that you speak; 
And looks up so "meachem" meek 
And you can't lay on him blame 
Nor conceal from him your shame. 

Abel like enough was one 
Who no wrong had ever done ; 
But he was so meek and mild 
That he nearly made Cain wild. 

And so Abel stirred up Cain, 
Day by day, again, again ; 
Just by looking with blue eyes 
Opened wide in meek surprise. 

Came the day of sacrifice, 
Abel's altar, neat and nice, 
Sent up flame and holy smoke, 
Lighted by a lightning stroke 

44 



From Cain's altar built of stone, 
With its offering to atone 
For his faults and errors small, 
There rose up no smoke at all. 

Silent, Abel stood close by. 
Watched his smoke ascend on high ; 
Looked so meek and cheerful there- 
His mere presence grateful prayer! 

Cain struck matches, cowboy style. 
On his breeches for awhile ; 
Not a single match would light. 
And his brow grew dark as night. 

"Abel"! said he, "will you bring 
"Spark to me or anything; 
"All my matches now are gone — 
"Everything with me goes wrong!" 

45 



Low voiced Abel made reply, 
"Pray to God who dwells on High ! 
"See my altar's lambent flame, 
"From High Heaven my spark came !" 

When the trial of Cain was had, 
He swore Abel drove him mad 
With his "smirking, meekful air, 
"And his attitude of prayer V 

But the judge excluded then 
Evidence of expert men; 
Not a word of "brain-storms" there 
Would he let the doctors swear. 

And poor Cain — well, you know how 
They then branded him on brow ; 
Deep with brand of "murder" there, 
For all time to wear and wear ! 

46 



Then they drove him from all lands, 
Over mountains, desert sands; 
Everywhere that scar he bore 
Speaking "murder" evermore! 

Better had they hanged him dead — 
Better that his life had fled 
When the blood of Abel cried 
Vengeance loud at altar's side ! 



For the silent stars so grim 
Glimmered coldly down on him ; 
On the up-turned face of Cain, 
Furrowed deep with scar and pain. 

Lonely, weak, and hopeless then 
Fled Cain "from the face of men"— 
Where he went, and where he is, 
Is one of the mysteries ! 

47 



But he has my sympathy 
In his lonely misery; 
And this fact I here maintain 
In behalf of branded Cain : 

Meekness drew from rage red hot 
The dire fate that Abel got; 
Cain hit him too hard a blow — 
Didn't mean to do it though! 




48 



THE WITCH OF ENDOR. 



npHAT terrible old Witch of Endor, 

With sad eyed ghosts to attend her, 
She frightened King Saul on his first call, 
She told him some, but didn't tell all — 
That terrible old Witch of Endor! 



That terrible old Witch of Endor, 
With demons and fiends to defend her ; 
She lived in a cave, and none would brave 
The darkness of nights, and horrible sights- 
That terrible old Witch of Endor! 

49 



That terrible old Witch of Endor ; 

With halo of horrid splendor ; 

All toothless and grim, and skinny and old, 

With warts on her chin, a sight to behold — 

That terrible old Witch of Endor ! 

But witches to-day don't do that way, 
They dress in silks and satins gay; 
They smirk and smile, and after awhile 
They fix your future, and get your "pile". 
Young witches, though not of Endor ! 




50 



THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. 



npHE Queen of Sheba came from where? 

What was she to the king? 
The stories that one hears, I swear, 
Are strange and quite puzzling! 

From the "Far South" she took her way, 
Up through the Torrid Zone ; 
Until she finally one day 
Stood there before the throne. 

Upon it sat great Solomon 

Who gave to her his hand; 

But what that means and what was done 

I do not understand. 

51 



For some they say by marriage twine 
They thus were joined complete; 
And others think as concubine 
The tie was strong and sweet. 

But anyway she "skipped" one night 
Back to her own far throne ; 
She left the king in a rare plight — 
But left him not alone : 

Six hundred royal wives he had, 
And sweethearts by the score; 
So Solomon he wasn't mad — 
He simply took some more. 

And one dark king on Afric's strand 
Claims lineage through a son 
Of Sheba, Queen of the Southland 
And mighty Solomon. 

52 



JACOB'S WRONGS AND ESAU'S LUCK. 



TT really is a shame the way that Jacob did, 

The facts are known and plain, the truth cannot 
be hid ; 
He euchred Esau of his right, he swindled him indeed ; 
If you don't think that this is true, the Holy Scriptures 
read! 



Now Jacob was a twin, and Esau was another — 
Both sons of Isaac old, and brothers to each other- 
And Esau was the first to cry for light and air. 
And Jacob caught his breath a moment after there. 



53 



In those old days they gave a great pre-eminence 
To eldest son in everything ; it was the usual sense 
Of justice men then held, and still is custom now 
In many lands all o'er the world, I vow! 

One day half starved from bootless chase of game 
O'er Chaldean hills, all faint and hungry Esau came 
To Jacob's tent and begged a sup of pottage hot — 
To save, indeed, his very life, I doubt it not. 

"Go chase yourself! for you don't get a taste or smell 
"Of it !" so Jacob said : "It's mine ! you go to — " well, 
What more he said so brutal was, I can't repeat; 
And there Esau half dead, saw Jacob stuff and eat. 

And Jacob, stingy twin, and younger brother too — 
Just read it for yourself; just see what he did do — 
He made poor starving Esau sign and give a deed 
To him of birthright for mere pottage in his need. 

54 



But that's not all ; read more of that long story there, 
Of Jacob's wily ways, and Isaac's dying prayer ! 
Old Isaac's sight was gone; he couldn't understand 
Or hear a word unless you yelled "to beat the band." 

He wished so very much his blessing then to give 
To eldest son ; he prayed and prayed that he might live 
To place his poor old hands on Esau's bowed down 

head 
And bless him with his last sad breath ere life be Red. 

That poor old man! he groped in darkness there and 

cried, 
"Is that you, Esau ! come near, come near, here by my 

side! 
"Kneel down and let me touch you once again my boy, 
"Your presence here, your voice and hand is my last 

joy!" 

"Yes, father, here am I ; Esau, your eldest son ! 
"Behold I kneel, now shall your last fond wish be done ! 
"The blessing I await!" so Jacob said — and lied; 
And hoped to profit by it when his father died. 

55 



"The voice is Jacob's but — but the hands are Esau's!" 
The old man feebly gasped; and then, with sigh and 

pause 
Of doubt and hesitating agony of love. 
Leaned down, and, trembling, dying, blessed him from 

above. 



The more you read of Jacob's life, the more you there 

will see 
His growth in wealth, in herds and flocks, and vast 

prosperity ; 
The strange unheard of things he did in way of 

speckled ewes, 
And striped bulls, and mottled rams to get from Laban 

dues. 



His children throve and multiplied, are found in every 
land ; 

In all the ways of trade to-day right in the front they 
stand ; 

They run the banks, the jewelry shops, and liquor busi- 
ness too. 

The clothing trade they have "cinched" down — in all 
you find the Jew ! 



56 



Now that's all right, and I am glad to see them do so 
well ; 

But what about the Esau tribe, can aught you say 
or tell? 

For ages they have lived in sands and climate burn- 
ing hot, 

There's millions of them too, I think, and hard enough 
their lot. 



On circus day a few of them on camels ride through 

town, 
The life of these poor Esau Jews is "humpty" up 

and down; 
And then one sees rich Jacob Jews roll by in red 

'mobiles. 
They follow there to see the show, swift riding at their 

heels. 



57 



I know there is a moral law that works its way su- 
preme, 

That evens up the old, old wrongs until in time they 
seem 

A hideous nightmare of the past that fades in light of 
day — 

But Jacob's wrongs and Esau's luck somehow don't look 
that way. 





58 



NOAH AND THE KANGAROO. 



XT O AH and the kangaroo 

Stood apart a pace or two — 
"Git in there, you pesky thing, 
"Don't you see the flood rising!" 

Every beast was safe on board; 
Frogs and bugs and bees all stored 
Safe within Old Noah's Ark — 
Daylight fled before the dark. 

Noah he had worked a score 
And one hundred years or more 
The lives of all to save on earth, 
Pair by pair for future birth. 

59 



But at the last moment there, 
One of a queer looking pair, 
A long legged kangaroo, 
Jumped the open doorway through. 

"Drat your hide and tail and all!" 
Noah wrathfully did bawl; 
"You will make the whole thing sink, 
"Git in there, quicker than wink!" 

Noah rushed to drive her in — 
Crack he got across the shin, 
From the tail of kangaroo. 
Blow that made it black and blue. 

With his staff he made a dash. 
But the kangaroo just laughed ; 
And she jumped clean o'er the Ark, 
Rose as easy as a lark! 

60 



Noah limps around again, 
Mad as any setting hen, 
"I'll fix you" ! spat on his hands — 
Whisk of tail — down flat he lands! 

Leering back with sinful grin, 
"You will never get me in 
"Your Old Ark, so I'll skiddoo !" 
Said the grinning kangaroo. 

And with one almighty bound 

Landed she all safe and sound 

On the Isle of Borneo, 

Where there was no Flood, you know. 

This is why the kangaroo 

Safely passed the Great Flood through- 

This is why I tell to you 

Tale of Noah and Kangaroo. 

61 



"THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.' 



-KM ELCHIZEDEK! Melchizedek ! 

Now who was he, what "order" his — 
That vague allusions there we see 
In Holy Writ, a mystery ! 



"The friend", they say, "of Abraham" ; 
Both joined together by strange rites — 
What kind of "work", and queer flimflam 
Kept them from home so late at nights ! 

Did they wear aprons and tin swords, 
And deck themselves in feathers gay? 
Did they give "grips", speak mystic words. 
And in processions march by day? 

62 



And on "Lodge nights" did they get "tight" 
As "royal Goats" of "High Degree"; 
In "Inner Circles" by weird light 
Invoke strange "Shades of Majesty" ; 

And feast and dance and smoke and chew, 
Fill "flowing bowls", and jokes relate — 
Do everything that some folks do, 
Raise "high old jinks" and "celebrate"? 

Who knows all this, and who can say. 
That's what I want to find out now — 
Who was Melchizedek, I pray. 
Why at his name do some men bow? 

A sacred name that wakes echoes 

Of mighty pasts and hallowed fame! 

Of Princes grand — and no one knows 

What were the things that brought the same ! 

63 



"The order of Melchicedek!" the mystery 

Of Abram's time survives to-day! 

Is it a humbug? can it be 

That truths sublime are saved that way! 

"The order of Melchisedek!" 
Can you tell me, and will you now. 
Who was "his nibs", Melchizedek; 
What he and Abram did, I vow ! 




64 



SAMPSON'S FATE. 



<4T CAN lick all Philistines 

"That the world has ever seen !' 
Sampson said; and it was true, 
Scores and hundreds he there slew. 



Sampson, mighty man of war! 
Great his fame comes from afar 
Through the murky mists of time; 
Hero ! Sun-God ! grand, sublime ! 

With the jawbone of an ass 
Made one thousand cry "alas!" 
Turn their toes up one by one, 
Twixt the morn and evening sun. 



65 



But no strength can withstand guile; 
Just you wait a little while 
And see how great Sampson fell — 
Listen to the tale I tell : 

Women all love big stout men ; 
How they cling to, fondle them 
Every time a chance is made 
To pretend they are afraid. 

I, myself, a little cuss. 
Don't like all this artful fuss 
That on my big brothers they 
Lavish sweetly day by day. 

And it pleases me to know 
How Delilah laid him low, 
Mighty Sampson, simple lout. 
Ere he knew what "put him out." 

66 



Seeking out her tent of sin 
One time Sampson swaggered in; 
There he spent the live-long day 
In the good old-fashioned way. 

And Delilah played her part, 
She was sweet, and cute, and smart ; 
Coaxed and wheedled him to tell 
What made him so strong and well. 

And he told her, and he slept; 
Slyly to his side she crept, 
Cropped with pair of monstrous shear? 
All his hair close to his ears. 

Then that measley heathen band. 
Red hot poker in each hand. 
Rushed in there, burned out his eyes 
Ere he woke in mad surprise ! 

.67 



Shorn of strength, a total wreck, 
Sampson "got it in the neck!" 
Oh, my brothers, big and stout, 

For all women watch ye out! 




68 



METHUSELAH. 



UT AM tired, I want to quit! 

"I have had enough of it — 
"Nine hundred and sixty years, 
"As for death I have no fears. 



"I can see and I can hear 
"Just as well as in the year 
"When I stood at twenty-one 
"Full of fight and vim and fun. 

"I have eaten tons of food, 
"And my appetite is good; 
"I can dance and sing to-day 
"Lively as a child at play. 

69 



"All that sense and pulse can thrill 
"I have strength to enjoy still; 
"It's not true that I'm worn out, 
"I, Methuselah, am yet stout. 

"I have seen all earth can bring, 
"Joy and sorrow, everything 
"That the human heart can hold — 
"All the story has been told. 

"In my fancy I can see 
"Dynasty and dynasty 
"Rise and fall and pass away — 
"To-morrow will be yesterday. 

"Nothing new beneath the sun ; 
"Everywhere I see done 
"Same old deeds by those who die, 
"As the centuries pass by. 

70 



"On the page of memory 

"I review the history 

Of the ages of my life, 

"Days of peace, and days of strife; 

"I am tired, I want to quit, 
"I have had enough of it ; 
"And each day I pray to God, 
"Let me rest beneath the sod!" 

Nine years later when he died 
Wise men came from every side, 
And they rendered to him praise 
For the length of all his days. 

On a shaft erected there 
These words enscribed are — 
"Methuselah got tired of it, 
"He was mighty glad to quit !" 



71 



Tell me now ye who seek years 
To be added unto years, 
Was Methuselah right or wrong- 
Would you like to live so long? 




72 



THE SUN OF GIBEON. 



«Q TAND ye still on Gibeon, and thou on Ascalon!" 

So said the warrior to the sun and moon ; 
And straightway they obeyed. 
And then they ran and killed the foe ; they slew 
The old and young, the weak and strong — but they 
Did kill no beauteous maid. 

And this they did by will of God on High 

Who gave to them the land of those they killed, 

Forever from that day. 

And to that end the sun He made stand still, 

And shadows stayed the space of morn 'till night. 

Whilst blood and war held sway. 

73 



Thus Joshua spread death and blood afar : 

His thoughts of God were born in weaknesses, 

Passion painted on the sky; 

He had no dream nor thought of those vast spheres 

That utmost fancy visions not, nor knows, 

Shining serene on high. 

And so his scheme of morals and of right. 

In bloody thoughts and purpose cruel conceived, 

Marked out his petty world. 

To him the sun stood still from morn to night. 

And hastened through the dark to shine again 

On bloody warfare hurled. 

Thus runs the tale ; but in our day it seems 

Absurd and cruel. We hold that neither sun, 

Nor moon, nor any star 

An instant ever halted in its course; 

And that unswerving they speed on, ceaseless. 

Through soundless deeps afar. 

74 



We gather from the stars the messages 

Of light, and reading know Causation's Law 

Has neither break nor end. 

We suns and systems there behold, gleaming 

Like gems — flowers all glorious on high — 

That constant night attend. 

And thus by knowledge of the vaster worlds 
That make our own a rounded grain of sand 
On edge of boundless sea. 
We learn of right and justice, and the Power 
That sustains all ; and halts no sun for war 
And deeds of cruelty. 




75 



THE WHALE'S HOODOO. 



T WONDER what poor Jonah thought when safe 

within the fish, 
And I would like to know also the whale's most 

darling wish; 
The whale could swim a thousand miles as easy as 

could be, 
But Jonah's home was on the land, he didn't like the 

sea. 



A strange, strange fate had joined the two in rare 

companionship. 
The whale had gulped poor Jonah down when cast 

from sinking ship; 
The crew of that fast sinking craft thought Jonah was 

"hoodoo", 
And as I read the tale I think it possibly was true. 



76 



For Jonah's luck was always tough, his fortunes were 

unique, 
He never got what he went for, nor what he choose 

to seek; 
And every one he met in life was quick to cast him out. 
And yet he wandered everywhere on land and sea 

about. 



The whale he showed signs of distress, great geysers 

he did blow ; 
And then to depths of darkest deeps in pain would 

dive below. 
He squirmed around, he bellowed some; said he, "I 

will be blowed ! 
"I never would have took him in. if only I had 

knowed I" 

77 



They traveled thirty thousand leagues beneath the 

swollen seas, 
They beat Jules Verne and Captain Cook in three days* 

trip with ease; 
From Cape Giradeau to Cape Good Hope one day they 

swiftly passed; 
And thence due West to wild Cape Horn continued 

on so fast. 



Thence N'or, N'orwest to Behrings Straits the second 

day they bore, 
Then Northwest Passage slipped they through, and 

down on Greenland's shore ; 
Up Norway's coast to Northern Seas, to China and 

Japan, 
And back again to Cape Good Hope in Persian Gulf 

they land. 

78 



And there the whale grew dreadful sick, for Jonah 

burned some oil 
To write the log about the trip — the whale made 

waters boil ; 
He lashed the seas with monstrous tail, he raised a 

mighty spout. 
And through the starboard breathing hole he blew 

poor Jonah out. 



Then Jonah climbed upon the shore, a gourd tree there 

he sought, 
"I know I've sailed around the globe, no ticket I have 

bought, 
"But not a blessed thing I've seen the blooming trip 

in view! 
"It's just my luck!" poor Jonah said, "I know I am 

'hoodoo !' " 



79 



DAVID AND GOLIATH. 



f^ OLIAH was so big and stout 

His voice made mountains moan ; 
But David whirled his sling about 
And hit him with a stone. 



That mighty giant dropped stone dead, 
And David grabbed his hair ; 
With one quick stroke cut off his head 
And held it high in air. 

And after that when David picked 
A stone up anywhere, 
Each Philistine jumped mighty quick 
And "pulled his freight" elsewhere. 



80 



THE ELIJAH BEARS— AND THE 
"TEDDY BEARS". 

(For Children — and some others.) 



«/^0 UP! go up! thou old Bald Head!" the little 

children cry 
To holy prophet, Elijah, who there was passing by; 
A shocking thing it was indeed, and dreadful, don't 

you know. 
For little ones to taunt and tease an old time 

prophet so ! 

The prophet halted in his steps and wildly waved his 

staff, 
The children backward dodged away, and then with 

shout and laugh 
Danced round about that man of God and shouted out 

more "sass". 

And followed him far up the wild and rocky mountain 
pass. 



81 



The prophet never said a word; at least I didn't hear 
Him say a wicked word ; and from his nose a tear 
Rolled down upon the ground, and then I heard his 

prayer, 
"Lord, let them follow me to yonder cave up there!" 



And thus the holy patient man went onward up the 

mount. 
Was followed by those sinful ones, full forty I did 

count ; 
And all climbed up the rugged sides, far up as he 

did go, 
Until they reached a dreadful cave, a mile above or so. 



And then that holy patient man slid down a steep 
ravine. 

And out there came from that dark cave (the biggest 
ever seen) 

Two monstrous bears, mothers themselves, and hun- 
gry, I tell you. 

And into fits and spasms there the little children threw. 

82 



With shrieks and yells and cries and prayers the 

mountain sides resound. 
And when the bears had done with them not e'en a 

bone was found ; 
For every child was eaten up ; and in the valley low 
The mothers wept, and preachers said, "I told you so !" 



And this is why that to this day our children with 

delight 
Close to their hearts in waking hours, and often in the 

night. 
Hug "Teddy Bears" and say in eagerness and pride, 
"If Teddy had been there no children would have 

died!" 



"My Gracious ! he is strong ! he'd tear them all to bits ! 
"He wouldn't need a gun — you bet he'd give them 

fits !" 
And then their "Teddy Bears" they hug and say to all, 

anew, 
"We love our 'Teddy Bears'!" {for what our Teddy 

didn't do!) 

83 



URIAH'S MISTAKE. 



"lATE are not called to sit in judgment on the ways 

Of those who lived in the "good old days" ; 
Each age is law unto itself, and we don't know 
How things "shaped up" in the long ago. 



But somehow I can't help but think and feel 
That Uriah never got "square deal" 
From royal hands of that old Hebrew king 
Whose psalms in church we often sing ! 

Weary and sad, and pleasure worn, and quite blase, 
Upon his palace roof at close of day, 
King David spied on housetop near, on other side, 
The undraped form of Uriah's bride. 



84 



Baathsheba! name sweet to hear in this late year! 

Of course it seems a little queer 

That she there took her bath in lingering daylight 

plain 
In sight of David — but there again 

We must not judge these things in present prudish 

light: 
The thing was done, the fashion quite, 
By guileless maids and matrons chaste — and with no 

shame — 
Old ways and new ways never are the same. 

He was the King ! He liked her, loved her from afar — 

He quickly sent Uriah to the war ; 

He had him shot, somehow, assassin's arrow, like 

enough ! 
To us it seems almighty tough ! 

85 



She was his mistress ; then his wife, and bore a son. 

The great and wise King Solomon ; 

And from this deed did thence proceed the greatest 

glory ■ 
Of all time, The Temple — you know the story! 

God wisely overrules the acts and sins of erring men ; 
Good came of it ; and yet I wonder when 
Uriah saw how looked the King upon his wife. 
He shot not him — and saved his life. 

King David did what modern millionaire would do 
If neighbor's roof showed such a sight in view; 
Uriah was "easy"; be not like him, your wife 
Keep off from housetops — and save your life! 



86 



HAM IS HAM. 



TAT HEN Ham was young, and Noah "tight", 

Snoring there in awful plight. 
Came the "Curse of Canaan" — 
And Ham's troubles then began. 



Poor old Noah all tired out 
With his voyage, tossed about 
In the Ark for forty days. 
Imbibed the "juice" the Bible says. 

And he drank to great excess. 
More than plenty, we can guess ; 
Else he wouldn't fall so low 
As to be "well drunk", you know. 

87 



It was awful, don't you think ! 
And it made the folks all wink, 
As with faces turned away 
They passed by on that sad day. 

I. 
And it made the angels weep, 

To see Noah fast asleep. 

Lying in the noontide sun — 

Not a single rag had on ! 

But Ham giggled, and he stared, 
Had no shame, it is declared; 
'Till Shem thrashed the low lived pup. 
And then covered Noah up. 

Noah woke and looked around. 
Saw Ham's tracks upon the ground; 
All he said I can't repeat. 
But he "cussed Ham out complete." 

88 



"Cursed be thou, Canaan ! 
"Servant to all other men ! 
"Black thou shalt be all thy days, 
"Black as are thy low down ways! 



"And thy blood the curse shall bear, 
"Grow thick lips and kinky hair ! 
"Hew the wood, and water bring — 
"You're too mean for anything!" 

Alas, for Noah ! Alas for Ham ! 
It was frightful — Noah's damn 
That red hot escaped in rage, 
Sizzles down to present age ! 

Ham he's black as black can be. 
Except "coons", part white, you see ; 
But e'en they are Hamites still, 
Always have been, always will. 

89 



Why did Ham then stare and stare 
At his father lying there? 
May be he was born that low, 
Couldn't help but do just so. 

Born in darkness, and not light, 
Though his skin was "shorely white" ; 
Inner blackness it struck out — 
Ham is ham, there is no doubt ! 




90 



JOB— THE MAN THAT WAS A MAn! 



npHERE was one in ancient Uz, 

No one now knows who he was, 
But they called him Job for short ; 
Seems to me he was right sort 
Of a man that was a man. 

He had troubles, woes, and trials, 
And he had most awful "biles" ; 
Down in ashes and the dust 
There he rolled and prayed and "cussed". 
Like a man that was a man. 

91 



Some things dreadful to him came, 
But he blessed the Lord's High Name; 
And next moment cursed the day 
Of his birth in a rare way, 

Like a man that was a man. 

Wife says she, "Curse God and die!" 
"Go way woman!" he made reply, 
"God he gives and takes away — 
"Cursed be my own birthday V 

Like a man that was a man. 

Three old friends came then to see 
Job there in his misery, 
Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, 
And they acted just as bad 

As the man that was a man. 

Tore their robes, shaved each his crown, 
In the dust they all sat down ; 
Not a word for seven days 
Did they speak, the Bible says, 

To the man that was a man. 

92 



Then at last the talk began, 
Tongues were loosened, and they ran 
Through all hours of day and night. 
And no comfort came in sight, 

To the man that was a man. 

"Hold your peace — Let me alone ! 
"I will speak ! on me may come 
"What will come! I will maintain 
"Mine own ways to Him again!" 

Said the man that was a man. 

"Though He slay me, Him I trust — 
"May my day of birth be cussed ! 
"Let the day when I was born 
"Perish utter, night and morn !" 

Said the man that zvas a man. 

Argued, scolded, prayed in vain 
The three friends, again, again; 
"What you know, the same do I ! 
"I will talk with God on High !" 

Said the man that zvas a man. 

93 



And he talked in glorious strain 
Of Arcturus and the train 
Of bright stars of Orion, 
And the "Chambers of the sun", 

Did the man that was a man. 

"Cans't thou bind the influence sweet 
"Of the "Pleiades — may my feet 
"Lead me down to darkest pit 
"Of death's gulf; and I mean it!" 

Said the man that was a man. 

Every kind of argument 
There was heard, and days were spent 
By the friends of Job in vain — 
Curse and pray and curse again 

Would the man that was a man. 

In the Book, the story goes, 
(Who wrote it no one knows) 
God Himself says "Job's a man, 
Satan do the worst you can 

To the man that is a man !" 

94 



And the Devil certain did 
"Try him out" ; and God forbid 
That you or I be ever called 
To be stricken, beat, and mauled 

Like the man that was a man ! 

Came at last to Job the thought, 
"I'll not question why I'm brought 
"To the ashes and the dust; 
"I now know that God is just !" 

Said the man that was a man. 

"Naught by me is understood, 
"But God is entirely good; 
"It's too wonderful for me" — 
And he gave it up, you see. 

Did the man that was a man. 

Then there came to him again 
Renewed health, and strength, and gain; 
And he lived long years in peace ; 
And the fame will never cease 

Of the man that was a man. 

95 



This upshot of all is true, 

You best take what comes to you ; 

It's by far the wisest plan, 

Don't be "Kicking" — be a man — 

Learn Job's lesson if you can. 




96 



Part Two 



Moods and Rhymes 

By 
Aretas 



HOME TREE 

"^Jiis tree (so hAe uAunzcxn Jjj^eJ 

<^^ ol wA eJ^y^a, o^es oi^t -6 A e e i/ejz2/zj j^ed 
(^6 a^^ clsj^j\r./2z wA ei^e ^dcci^j'^AjA e oj^. 

^eiJioa liome, &A, o/c^^OJ^fi T^^^, 
0^0 iJzu^ ^ AcT^e /2zu^ ev<s/i 6e 






103 



JULIA'S EYES. 



T PLAYED the game the best I knew, 

And I am "busted," and I'm through; 
And this is how it came about, 
How I happen to be "cleaned out." 

Bill was all right, and always fair; 
As for the gal — well, there you are ! 
No man knows what a gal will do, 
And I'm plumb "locoed," I tell you ! 

You know Old Gordon, and his ranch 
Over the range, 'longside the branch; 
His gal Julia — my Lord, such eyes — 
Stars glowing through faint sunrise! 

104 



She treated Bill and me alike, 
Straight and level as yonder pike ; 
Of course we knew that time would tell 
Which got Julia, and which got hell. 

At last came day for her "round up," 
And Bill and me, we played "seven-up," 
And Julia said whichever won — 
She would marry the lucky one. 

I held ace high and deuce of spades ; 
There stood Julia — dearest of maids 
Sun ever warmed or stars shone on — 
And I felt sure the game was won. 

"Jack and the Game" was held by Bill, 
And at the "tie" my heart stood still ; 
But I braced up, and then once more 
We played again, stood four to four. 

105 



And on next deal the "Queen of Hearts" 
Was all I held of trumps apart ; 
And Julia smiled at Bill, you see,, 
But all the same she winked at me. 

When "show down" came I took one glance, 
The sky grew black, I had no chance. 
For Bill held "High, Low, Jack and Game" — 
Never would Julia bear my name ! 

I ain't no "squealer," and I stand 
Pat on the cards that come to hand ; 
But God above! why did she wink 
And put me on the "blooming blink !" 

Where am I going? I'm going where 
The "kiotes" howl, and grizzly bear 
Roam up and down the canon's side, 
And face whatever comes betide. 

106 



But, Stranger, when I lie by night 
Beneath the silent stars so bright, 
I'll look in depths of lonely skies, 
And sleeping — dream of Julia's eyes, 

Calambas Ranch, July 5, 1905. 




107 



A TOAST TO THE STARS. 



(At a banquet where many toasts have been drank 
to friends near and far, one reveller, inspired either by 
wine or by the spirit of poesy, lifts high his class and 
toasts the stars in the following fashion) : 

np HE stars are so queer : 

They see plain and clear 
All there is on earth. 
All that moves and has birth — 
But never a word 
From the far depths is heard. 

They watch all we do, 
Things good and bad, too; 
And all that they think 
They back and forth wink — 
But never a word 
From the far depths is heard. 

108 



They know the whole plan 
That vibrating ran 
Through chaos and night 
On the wings of their light — 
But never a word 
From the far depths is heard. 

So here's to the stars! 
Strange neighbors of ours ! 
Those unnumbered eyes 
That peer through the skies — 
But never a word 
From the far depths is heard. 

Amherst, Mass., Dec. 5, 1899. 




109 



MARLIN AND I. 



«/^ ONE with Sal ! took her away 
'Fore sun up on yesterday! 
Rode my mare, and she the bay ! 
Vamoosed down the mountain slope, 
Swift as startled antelope!" 



"Let me look around a bit ! 
Vacant cabin tells of it — 
Left no note to say farewell — 
Left the loneliness and hell 
Of love fled and ashes dead!" 

110 



"Just to think how it came round, i 

I, his friend, when none was found 
To take him in because they said 
O'er the Range in haste he fled 
To this camp to save his life." 

"I, who opened wide my door. 
Told him 'harm shall come no more 
To you, stranger, sick, half dead; 
Though a price be on your head — 
I'll stand by you, anyway.' " 

"And Sal nursed him night and day, 
Gentle, tender, that's her way! 
Nursed him through the fever spell. 

Healed his wounds and made him well- 
And I helped her all I could." 

"Never for a moment thought 
That to me would thus be brought 
Wreck of home, of life; disgrace; 
Falseness from the sweet fair face 
That I worshipped more than God !" 



Ill 



"After this I shall believe 

Every woman will deceive 

Him who loves her more than life — 

Curses on the name of wife, 

Never more my lips to pass ! 

"As for friend, I tell you what 
It's a word to be forgot! 
I will hold it now in scorn, 
Not a single human born 
Henceforth shall be friend of mine." 

"But on one I can depend 
Whilst I live to be my friend, 
Marlin there, above the door, 
He's my friend forever more — 
Marlin there, my forty-five!" 

"Sights are true, he shoots as straight 

As the lightning bolt of fate; 

Here I take him in my hand 

And will search throughout the land 

Till I find them, near or far." 

112 



"Through his heart I'll shoot a hole, 
To perdition send his soul! 
As for her, to God alone 
For her sin she must atone — 
Naught say we, Marlin and I." 



And the buzzards in the sky, 
Floating specks, afar, on high. 
Sail and circle, circle nigh. 
O'er the plains all brozvn and bare. 
Downward to a dead man there! 

Tenebros Camp, Sept. 30th, 1907. 







113 



THE CHILD'S QUESTIONS. 



W A ND must I pray to-night 

To Rockefeller high, 
Who sits upon his throne so white 
Way up there in the sky?" 

"No, Rockefeller is not God! 

You must not me annoy; 
Your question is too bold and broad, 

My darling little boy." 

"But then he made the oil papa, 

That's found down in the ground ; 

For which the people near and far 
Pay him the whole year round." 

114 



"No, no my child, by sun and storm 
Through untold ages past. 

Nature made oil for all here born 
Whilst human life should last." 

"Then why do people let him sell 

To them the oil so high; 
Why don't they help themselves and tell 

Him they no more will buy?" 

"Oh, go to bed! Your questions wise 
Prove men mere chumps to be; 

The truth that shines in your brown eyes 
Will some day make oil free." 

April 4th, 1898. 



115 



SELF MIGRATIONS. 



np HAT once I sped through air 

With bounding, joyous tread, 
That I was light and fair 

As clouds that float o'er head, 
I dream, in truth. 



The time does not appear, 
Nor shape of life I wore. 

But that in some far year 

I free in space could soar, 
I feel, I know. 

116 



Self-force my form sustained, 

Self-force the earth did spurn, 

As thought my steps attained 
All ways I chose to turn 
By day, by night. 

In vain I seek my past to view, 

In vain I strive to live once more 

Evolving days my life ran through 

From age to age, from shore to shore 
Of birth to death. 

Through memory weak and paths of dust 
I can not trace the mystery 

Of time, of life — and yet I must, 
Conscious of self and fearlessly, 
Live on, live on! 

Chicago, 111., May 7th, 1898. 



117 



THE GAS BILL. 



"Y^ OU are a Christian, but the bill, 

The gas bill, how the figures fill 
Your soul with hatred for the light 
That comes through pipes and burns so bright. 
And you clutch your hair and swear; 
And your wife and children fair 
Shrink in horror and affright 
As you swear both day and night, 
By all that's holy, sweet and good, 
How the gas man, if you could. 
You would pound and kick and smash 
Into jelly and then thrash 
The life out of the dash! dash! dash! 
The dash! dash! dash! The dash dash! dash! 



118 



But morning comes, the Sabbath sweet, 
And you in church all shaved and neat 
Bow low to pray — for you're no Turk, 
And in your Christian heart can lurk 
No trace of hate toward any one; 
For such the word of God's Dear Son — 
And you no longer have a doubt 
That God reigns, and quite devout, 
Are filled with peace and love ; and then 
As you reflect of ages when 
Sulphurous gas will stifle him 
Who made the bill, in silence grim 
This prayer you breathe, "Lord it is well ! 
Thank God there is, there is a hell !" 

Chicago, Oct. 3d, 1898. 



119 



DEMOCRACY. 



"pvEMOCRACY ! Democracy ! 

Word dear as life itself to me! 
As sunlight shines on all alike, 
As darkness falls on all by night, 
As blow the winds o'er every sea. 
As thought unchanged will ever be^ 
So equal rights are thy demands 
And for all freedom in all lands. 

The stars of night steadfast declare 
That each man born is rightful heir 
To all that Nature holds for man 
Of life, of death — of all he can 
Of pleasure, pain or woe control, 
From East to West, from pole to pole, 
From mountain heights to the gray sea- 
Through all of life's mortality. 



120 



No law shall stay eternal right, 
No statute old or new shall blight 
Man's swelling hopes that come there may 
The dream, the dawn of the full day 
When scepters, thrones and tyrants all 
Into oblivion's pit shall fall ; 
When all shall cast off love of pelf 
And each shall be master of self. 



Then speed the day and haste the hour, 

Break down the barriers, gain the power 

To use the land, to sail the sea, 

To hold the tools unchecked and free; 

No tribute pay, but service give, 

Let each man work that all may live, 

Banish all bonds and usury. 

Be free — set free ! Democracy ! 



Chicago, Feb. 15th, 1898. 



121 



THE MAID BETRAYED. 



Tyyf Y heart is sad, 

I should be glad; 
For right of mirth 
Is mine by birth, 
And joy and song 
Should Hoat along 
On every breeze 
That stirs the trees. 

But woe is mine. 
And drear the time ; 
The passing years 
Bring sobs and tears ; 
And sombre pain, 
Like mist and rain, 
Shuts out the light 
Of my birthright. 

122 



For false was he 
Who said to me, 
With kiss and vow, 
"I love you now; 
I'll love you when 
All other men, 
And angels too 
Beyond the blue 
Of heaven above, 
Have ceased to love.' 

His fond embrace 
Brought me disgrace. 
His love-lit smile 
Did me beguile; 
I gave myself 
With all my wealth 
Of womanhood — 
Betrayed I stood. 

123 



And soon he left 
Me love bereft 
For a new face 
With new love grace ; 
And sad am I 
As years go by— 
And yet I love 
My faithless love. 



Chicago, 111, January 7th, 1899. 



124 



THE WAVES' REFRAIN. 



/^ H, the waves of the open sea ! 

How they roll and toss so free; 
Crested and turbulent, noisy and sad ; 
Careless and joyful, riotously mad. 

Mingling, commingling; changeful all; 
Torn with mad passion the clouds they call; 
Up to the heavens, and down to the deep. 
Ceaseless, eternal, they rest not nor sleep. 

Sweeps the wind from East, from West ; 
Flows the tide with wild unrest; 
Shouts of joy and sobs of pain — 
Hear ye not the waves' refrain? 

Mid-Atlantic, March 25th, 1901. 



125 



THE MOOD MAKES THE MAN. 



TT'S all in the mood, 

And matters it not 
That fortune is rude 

And hard is your lot. 
The mood is the man, 

The great test of all, 
And by it you can 

Rise up or down fall. 

Whenever in doubt 

Don't grumble and fret; 
Think not from without 

That help you will get ; 
But turn right within 

And hearken to words 
That then will begin 

To make themselves heard. 

126 



For somehow will come 

From somewhere unseen, 
Like faint sounding drum, 

These words, as in dream; 
"The thing that you would 

The most wish to do, 
You surely then should 

'Brace up' and put through!" 



"Be cheerful, be patient, 

Be true to yourself. 
All hardships are transient. 

All trials are wealth; 
For by them you can 

Rise upward each day; 
The mood makes the man — 

Be cheerful, I say!" 

Washington, D. C, January 3d, 1900. 



127 



A BOSTON IDYL. 



T CANNOT tell a lie 

And what I now do say, 

Ts what I passing by 

In Boston saw one day. 



The solemn Sabbath bell 

Tolled out o'er Common wide ; 
Walked there to church damsel, 

Her bull-dog by her side. 

One hand her book of prayer 
Demurely held so prim, 

The other hand so fair 

Held fast string tied to him. 

128 



The maiden's eyes devout 

Were fixed on bull-dog's tail; 
The dog yanked her about, 

The maiden's face grew pale. 



For came there down the street 
That to the church door led, 

A gentleman so sweet, 

A silk tile on his head. 

On coat chrysanthemum. 

Dragged he a English stick; 

And right before him run 

His bull-pup pert and quick. 

The maiden's dog sprung free, 

A wicked leer in eye ; 
It was a sight to see 

Those bull-dogs clinch so spry. 

129 



The Sabbath bells chimed sweet 
Praise to the Lord on High; 

The crowds rushed down the street 
From every church near by. 

Each man therein made bets. 
Communion was forgot; 

And deeper each dog sets 

His teeth, with rage red hot. 

The maiden's voice in low 

And cultured tones were heard, 
"Come here! come here Plato!" 

But Plato never stirred. 

She swung her prayer book high, 
She struck out with all force. 

She "pasted" in the eye 

The under dog of course. 

130 



Then soft lisped out the tongue 
Of Boston's proud young man, 

"Come here, Oh, Emerson! 
My poor dog if you can !" 

Each philosophic pup, 

Plato and Emerson, 
Hung on with no let up. 

True sons of old Boston. 

No word spake he as yet, 
To maiden, nor did she; 

It was not etiquette — 

Not introduced, you see. 

Then came a brutal "Cop" 

And choked the dogs apart ; 

He to the fight put stop. 

And saddened every heart. 

131 



Oh, Boston ! Pilgrim's pride ! 

Home of philosophy ! 
Why by your maidens' side 

Must bull-dogs always be? 

Boston, Mass., December 30th, 1899. 



132 



THE DRY FOUNT. 



A RE kisses sweet as they used to be? 
Is love as kind as it was to me? 
Do hands that greet stir pulses true 
In the friendly way they used to do? 

Is the world as good, or is it worse? 
Does hate still burn with its fiery curse? 
Do passions come and go at will — 
And what comes after the heart lies still? 

I'm old and feeble, and almost dead; 
The stars look dim in the sky o'er head ; 
And I totter on and wonder why 
My fount of love and hate went dry. 

Woodnest, Maryland, January ii, 1909. 



133 



PRAIRIE AND THOUGHT. 



f~\^ the prairies of the West 

How the eye doth vaguely rest 
On the vacant spaces far 
Where the earth and sky lost are. 

Green and brown and purple too, 
With the varied season's hue; 
How they broaden out the thought 
'Till all near things are forgot. 

How the mind goes on and on 
Through the days that now are gone ; 
On through hopes of things to be, 
Endless, changeful as the sea. 

134 



Shrinks the Soul then into naught — 
Swells the Soul then out in thought 
'Till the throbbing pulses thrill 
With the thought all space to fill. 

Joliet, 111., December 6th, 1898. 




186 



THE BEST OF MEN. 



T^ XCEPTING that, he's the best of men ! 
He cuffs and beats me now and then ; 
He stands about the pot house door, 
And daily drinks up by the score 
Great mugs of ale and Bitter beer; 
But still to me he's very dear — 
For excepting that, he's the best of men. 

Last night he kicked me out of bed, 

And "belted" me across the head, 

And chased me up and down the street. 

Big knife in hand, and swore he'd beat 

My brains all out, and run me through, 

And I believe he meant it, too — 

But excepting that, he's the best of men. 

136 



He never works, he takes away 
The shillings I have earned each day; 
He never speaks a kindly word, 
And Oh, the language I have heard! 
For years and years, you can't begin 
To know, nor dream, nor imagine — 
But excepting that, he's the best of men. 

Ah, well, I know it's all no use 
Supporting him in such abuse! 
And that he'll spend all I can save. 
And drive me to a pauper's grave; 
But Jim I love, and then you know, 
Without me sure to hell he'd go — 
And that's no place for the best of men. 

Rochdale, England, January 29th, 1901. 



137 



AWAKE TO LIBERTY. 



"TX REAM not of Ideals grand and true, but act ; 

To-day's the time and hour to do the fact 

The Centuries create. 

What greater need of heart's best strife than now, 

When millions weep and starve through life and bow 
Their heads in woe. 

Why do we dream and muse, and sleep to-day? 

The shining sun doth climb the deep to say 

"Arise, oh man, and work!" 

Cast off the spell that 'numbs thy mind, and break 

The chain thy brother's hand doth bind, and wake 
Him to the light. 

138 



Fear not to do the thing ne'er done — join hands, 
Stand face to face — 'tis then are won all lands 
To brotherhood's demands. 
From age to age man then is free to be 
The self, through Nature's own decree, that he 
Himself would be. 

Chicago, February 25th, 1898. 




139 



COLD CASH. 



npHE friend of all friends is money! 

You think perhaps it's funny; 
But search for a friend in need 
You'll find no friend indeed — 

But cash, no friend but cash. 



You look for a friend when "broke", 
You get a stare and a poke ; 
But help you never receive, 
\ The truth you then perceive — 
\ No cash, no friend but cash! 

140 



"You have a friend in Jesus!" 
They sing and pray and leave us ; 
No use for you have they 
If broke and debts to pay — 

No cash, no friend but cash! 

Then give me cash, cash money ! 
'Tis sweeter far than honey! 
The friend of all friends I ask 
Is cash! cold cash! cold cash! 

Washington, D. C, January i6th, 1900. 



141 



THE POET'S LAMENT. 



XJO one but hungry men 

Can poetry think or write ; 
Divine Afflatus then 

Fills stomachs empty quite. 

Oh Muses, great and old! 

Why must this always be! 
We think and hungry hold 

Our heads in misery. 

We get up in the night 

And turn our fancy loose; 

We then our thoughts indite, 
But it is all no use. 

142 



There cometh in the morn 
No one to give a dime 

For all the thoughts thus born 
And put by us in rhyme. 

And if a dinner we 

At odd times ever get, 

It's death to poetry, 

It kills the Muse, you bet. 

We poets starve and write 
In garret and in cell; 

Our lines they live all right — 
But our life, it is h — 11. 

Washington, D. C, January i8th, 1900. 



143 



THE REDBREAST. 



T NEVER hear a robin sing 

But lo ! my mother's face appears ! 
The tender notes through mem'ry ring, 
And back return the vanished years. 



The dear old home with flowers entwined, 

In sunset glow like halo cast, 
The loving thoughts, the peace of mind 

Are mine again as in the past. 

Oh, wondrous bird! whence comes thy song. 
What spell thy blood-red breast inspires? 

Why do you sing and bear along 

With rippling voice hopeless desires? 

144 



Again in vibrant vision go 

My pulsing thoughts by heart throbs pressed ; 
Now comes surcease to present woe — 

I slumber on my mother's breast. 

Chicago, 111., May 5th, 1898. 




145 



JESSE JAMES' BAD SHOT. 



T *LL tell the tale they told to me 
Of wild guerrilla days, 
How Jesse James laughed heartily 

And "couldn't shoot straight-ways." 



Says Jesse, "start the Peg-leg man, 
"Make him next run the race! 

"I'll bet a thousand that he can 
"Show up a lively pace. 

"This bag of gold put on that stump, 
"Three hundred yards away; 

"He must get there before I plump 
"The lead through him, I say. 

146 



"You Jim, this watch take in your hand, 

"Give him the word to go ; 
"One moment's time, you understand, 

"County sixty loud and slow. 

"If gets there 'fore time is up 

"The gold and life is his ; 
"But if he fails I'll shoot the pup 

"And spoil his Yankee 'phis/ " 

The Yankee "cinches up" the straps 

To hold his leg on tight; 
Upon the word he turns flip-flaps — 

A strangely funny sight! 

In cart-wheel fashion rolls along 
On wooden-leg and hands ; 

'Midst shouts and yells of rebel throng, 
Swift o'er the stones and sands. 

147 



At full five paces from the stump 
"Sixty!" rings out his knell; 

"Crack !" goes the gun — one mighty jump — 
He lands there safe and well ! 

He grabs the bag — "I've won, I've won! 

"Me and my wooden-leg ! 
"Shoot, if you dare your darned old gun; 

"I won't stir now a peg !" 

And Jesse bends with laughter there, 
Then straightens up full height; 

"I'm glad I missed, you ran it fair, 
"Say Peg-Leg, you're all right! 

"The 'ornerest' sight I ever see 

"In all my dog-gone life! 
"Shake, Yankee ! shake ! you shall go free 

"With one bag more for wife !" 

Henrietta, Texas, April 5th, 1905. 



148 



THE SHELL OF THINGS. 



"lATHEN things combine to hold you down, 

Cut loose and rise above ; 
And fear not then dread fortune's frown, 
Cut loose and rise above. 



Assert yourself in every hour, 

Cut loose and rise above; 
Thou hast within thee mightier power. 

Cut loose and rise above. 



Man is not born the slave of things, 
Cut loose and rise above; 

Through all thy life a meaning rings, 
Cut loose and rise above. 

149 



For things are vain and empty all, 
Cut loose and rise above; 

They hold no worth nor power at all, 
Cut loose and rise above. 



When e'er you feel shut in by things, 
Cut loose and rise above; 

Burst out the shell that to you clings, 
Cut loose and rise above. 



Chicago, 111., April 26th, 1899. 




150 



THE MYSTERY. 



Lines suggested at sight of "The Old Round Tower" 
at Newport. R. I. 



\kT HAT hands shaped this thy rounded form. 

Oh Tower of Old? 
Was it for peace or wars' alarum 

Built up by warriors bold? 
Why stands it here in this late year 

A mystery unsolved? "^ 

What was the thought, the purpose clear 

First then to stone resolved? 

151 



The centuries have circled round, 

The sun has rose and set ; 
Deep night has cast its shade profound 

Through untold ages yet. 
A race unknown, an age forgot 

It typifies to-day — 
Will come the time when this our lot 

Will then have passed away? 

Yes, all things go in endless round, 

All toil and hopes of men; 
Fall work and workers to the ground. 

Does naught at all last then? 
Is mind of man fore-doomed to death. 

And does it cease to be? 
Your answer, speak in one short breath — 

Solve ye the mystery! 

Newport, Rhode Island, December 14th, 1899. 

152 



THE ANSWER. 



\kT HAT holds the life to come for me, 

I wonder and I doubt; 
Is it of joy and liberty, 

Or will I be "snuffed out?" 

Why is it left to mortal mind 
To blindly grope and feel! 

Why is the truth so hard to find, 
Why hid is woe and weal? 

Is there a power that shapes our ends. 
Or do we hew them straight? 

Is all we know of fate that trends, 
To listen and to wait? 

153 



The answer never yet was found 

By dreaming nor delay; 
It comes from acts that each day round 

Assert what we would say. 



Boston, Mass., December i8th, 1899. 




154 



THE TIME OF THE GODS. 



T N the time of the Gods 

All things come round 
To those who toil 

In faith profound. 

For the Gods were once mere mortals bold, 
Who silent wrought with zeal untold 

Their wondrous works and deeds sublime 
And gave no heed to day nor time. 

And now Olympus sounds their praise. 

Where time is dead, and deeds are days ; 

Where now is all, and all is now, 

And Earth and Heaven to them bow. 

Washington, D. C, February igth, 1910. 



155 



THE HELPING HAND. 



T N the depths of the wood 
The rain dripped down, 
Slipping from leaf to leaf; 
The darkening clouds 
With sullen frown 

Wept in silent grief. 

I wandered lost and weary there, 
I turned this way and that ; 

I sought the light in my despair, 
I strove vague fear to combat. 

156 



Through the gloom of the night 

I plunged in vain, 

Sinking in wild morass ; 
No sound I heard 

But drip of rain, 

And I cried "Alas! Alas!" 

i 

For my heart was sad, 
My burden great — 

No light within or without — 
Sad memories 

And fearsome fate 

Encompassed me about. 

Then came to me. 
Afloat on high 

A form all wondrous fair; 
Through radiant light, 
As she drew nigh. 

An out-stretched hand was there. 

157 



She sweetly, swiftly, 
Lifted me 

To God's sunlight again; 
To hear no more. 
Forever more, 

The drip, drip, of the rain. 

She vanished then, 
With smile serene. 

In brightness of the day; 
Her face again 

I ne'er have seen, 

Her name, I can not say. 

But once I heard, 
In silent night, 

A breathless voice close by, 
"We Angels like 

To bear to light 

Those who in darkness cry." 

(In the Maryland Forests, October 27th, 1903.) 



168 



I LOVE YOU SO. 



np HE years may come and years may go 

But I will love you, love you so, 
That days and years alike will be 

One lingering dream of love for thee. 

I shall not care for aught in life, 

I shall not care for pain nor strife ; 

But I shall hold as joy supreme 

Deep in my heart that loving dream. 

And through all war, and in all peace. 

My love will swell in rich increase; 
In every land, o'er every sea — 

1^11 love you everywhere I be. 

159 



My love will- heed not death's cruel thrust, 
I'll love you when my heart is dust ; 

My love will out live time, I know, 
Because I love, I love you so. 

San Francisco, California, May 23d, 1899. 




160 



THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW. 



T WANT the love again, 

The love that thrilled me so 
When you and I were then 
Both young so long ago. 



I could not bear to be 

A moment from your sight ; 
My thoughts were all of thee, 

By day and through the night. 

Your form, your face, your hair 
Merged in each breath I drew; 

You were supremely fair, 

And love was sweetly new. 

161 



But years have quenched the fire 

Of passion and of youth; 
And what I now desire 
Is simply the sad truth: 

Do you now love me, Dear, 
As I love you so fond ; 

With thought and love so clear 
As shine the stars beyond? 

You answer, "Yes, I do, 

I love as you have told"— 

I welcome then the New, 
I do not want the Old. 

Holyoke, Mass., December 4th, 1899. 



162 



THE LAST REQUEST OF SOCRATES. 



(From the "Phaedo" — free translation.) 



'TpAKE her away," said Socrates 

As Xantip' moaned and cried ; 
"Else pass the hemlock quick — now please, 
"If she stays by my side. 



"I wish to have one moment's peace 

"Ere I depart this world; 
"Unless she goes, great Gods of Greece! 

"May I in Styx be hurled !" 



So from the best and wisest man 
They took her out of view; 

For well they knew no woman can 
Her ceaseless talk eschew. 

163 



Then Socrates gave forth discourse — 
Immortal thoughts and words — 

But down the street echoes, of course, 
Of Xantip's voice were heard. 

Libations to the Gods above 

And Socrates are due; 
But if this tale you tell your Love, 

Great Scott, I pity you! 

Paradise, Md., August ii, 1909. 




164 



THE DOME OF LIBERTY. 



/^ H, Dome of Freedom ! grand and fair I 

Embossed against the languorous air! 
Thou art superb in form and size, 
Unequalled thou beneath the skies! 



Thy rounded splendor greets the light 
Of morning glistening pure and white ! 
Thy matchless beauty like a dream 
Ethereal seems in moonlight's gleam! 



Complete, majestic, high, supreme! 
Symbolic of long cherished dream 
In hearts of men who would be free, 
Oh, Dome, Oh, Dome of Liberty! 
Washington, D. C, June, 1901. 

165 



THE MASTERY. 



T SAW a spirit bright 

Up-struggling through the dark; 
It's wings were clogged by night, 

It's form was gaunt and stark. 



Anguish was on it's brow. 

Torture it's soul did burn; 

But up it pressed, and slow. 

No pain it's course could turn. 

For power of will 
Was left it still, 
To trample pain and woe; 
So upward it did go. 

166 



And soon there came 
New force and life, 

And banished pain 

And mastered strife — 

And peace was gained. 

Boston, Mass., December 8th. 1899. 




167 



THE "BREAKERS" AND BROTHER- 
HOOD. 



Vanderbilt's magnificent palace, "The Breakers/* 
at "Newport by the Sea," has been for several years 
uninhabited and closed. 

A LL that art and sea enthrone 
Here is found supreme; 
Sound of wave and sense of stone. 
Beauteous, beauteous dream ! 

Wealth of man and gift of God 

Burst in vision rare; 
Search afar and search abroad 

Like is found no where. 

168 



What say wave and sigh of breeze 

Unto thee alone 
Who here boasts in pride and ease 

"This is all my own !" 

Say they aught of brotherhood, 

And of rights of man? 
Sob they forth woes understood 
Of thy fellow man? 

Unto me the sea and sky 

This proud word denies; 

Deep in heart comes the reply 
" 'Mine' and 'thine' are lies !" 

"For all men are brothers real, \ 

Heirs to beauty all; 
What the sea and sky reveal 

Comes not at thy call." 

169 



Breaks refrain, again, again. 

And whispers every wave, 
"Here shall be no title chain, 

All this Nature gave !" 

"Awake, oh man! and pride disown! 

Wide swing the doors and windows free ! 
Let every wave and every stone 

Sing out the song of Liberty!" 

Newport, R. I., December 14th, 1899. 




170 



THE "CHINEE CHLISTIAN". 



ii-y OU sabe Jesus— you Chlistian? 

"Sunday I go Chlistian Mission- 
"Girlee teacher heap likee me — 
"So I good Chlistian now, you see! 

"That girlee teacher, she fine girlee — 
"I take her plesents, silk and tea — 
"She say 'Jesus lovee Hop Ling!* 
"She teachee me prayee and sing. 

"One day I sing 'I lovee you' — 
"Her face make red— I say *it true'— 
"She say 'Hop Ling no singee that* — 
"Melican boy knockee me flat. 



171 



"That girlee cly; she pattee head — 
"She pattee hand — 'Poor Ling!' she said- 
"I holdee hand — she squeezee me — 
"That MeHcan boy, he no see. 

"Bime-bye she bling laundly my place — 
"She shakee hand — I kissee face — 
" 'No more kissee !' she say, 'No more !' 
" 'I Chlistian !* I say— she fly door. 

"Some day that girlee, she come back — 
"I fixee tea. Oh, stlong and black — 
"May be she smokee hop with me 
"So I good Chlistian, now, you see." 

Paradise, Maryland, July 29, 1909. 



172 



THE WAY OF HOPE. 



•A WIND swept bird far out at sea 

Flies low o'er waves, and wearily, 
To gain the sun-kissed shore; 
Seeks first the East, and then the West, 
And circles round in dread unrest — 
In vain, and o'er and o'er. 



No land in view, no spot to rest 
It's wayward flight above the crest 

Of rolling waves; 
The salt spray damps its beating wings. 
Each moment gathering darkness brings — 

No hand there saves. 



173 



And yet the bird has strength to sing, 
And singing soar on forceful wing 

Above the roaring deeps; 
To rise through clouds to currents fair, 
To float on landward breezes there — 

// hope it keeps. 

Washington, D. C, April 25th, 1905. 




174 



THE "LUNGER'S" FATE. 



"lAT HAT e'er you do, where e'er you go, 

From Golden Gate to Shasta's snow, 
From Pedro Bay to Phoenix sands, 
O'er peak, o'er plain, through all the lands 
That form the vast Pacific Slope, 
I pray you and I truly hope 
That as you go from State to State 
You never will expectorate. 

I say this now to you because 
In all these parts they have made laws 
That don't allow men who are free 
To chew and spit promiscuously ; 
And they have nailed up everywhere 
These words, that tell all to beware 
Of laws passed by each Far West State, 
Do not, do not expectorate." 

175 



The tourist comes from out the East, 
He brings his lungs — or one, at least — 
He leans against a poplar tree. 
He coughs, and coughs, so wearily ; 
He chokes, and gasps, prepares to spit, 
When with these words his ear is hit — 
"See here friend 'lunger' don't you see 
That sign tacked there upon that tree?' 



"Can you not read the words so plain? 
You better not cough here again ! 
We don't allow irk this 'ere town 
No man, though white or black, or brown, 
To cough and spit his lungs around 
In reckless way upon the ground ! 
I'm Marshal here and let me state, 
You better not expectorate!" 



176 



"My God, where can I go!" he cries, 
This tourist man with hectic eyes, 
"To death I will myself resign! 
All through your town I saw your sign 
And crawled out here and thought perhaps 
I could spit once ere I collapsed ! 
But here it is, as sure as fate, 
'Do not, do not expectorate.' " 

A smothered cough, a groan, and then — 
Excuse me we are all neat men — 
The tourist struggles not to spit. 
But all in vain, he does do it. 
The Marshal clubs him down the street, 
He tells the Justice whom they meet, 
The Justice he don't do a thing 
But sentence him to San Quentin. 

Stockton, California, July 8th, 1899. 

(On the Pacific Coast consumptives are called "lungers" and 
imprisonment sometimes follows expectoration. The State peni- 
tentiary of California is at San Quentin.) 

177 



OLD AGE. 



T> ENT and bowed and last days near, 

Tell me what it is you fear ! 
Is it thought of life to come, 
Is it fear that there is none? 
Old Age, Old Age! 



Hands that shake and eyes bleared dim; 
Toothless, halting, tottering; 
Breath most gone and pulse so slow. 
What is it you fear to know? 
Old Age, Old Age! 



178 



What now lives is memory, 
What has been again will be ; 
Acts of good and acts of sin, 
These you now must gather in, 
Old Age, Old Age! 



And your future sure will be 
What yourself have lived out free ; 
What from all the years you reap 
Goes with you in your long sleep. 
Old Age, Old Age! 

Washington, D. C, January loth, 1900. 



179 



MARCONIGRAMS. 



UT YET shall tune a message o'er the sea!" 

Marconi said — and lo, 'tis done ! 
Likewise the loving throb of sympathy 
Afar can soothe the suffering one. 



Washington, D. C, May i8th, igio. 



180 



FOND BROWN EYES. 



T^OND brown eyes! Fond brown eyes! 

Why do you look in such surprise 
At the words I whisper, Dear, 
So that only you can hear? 

Fond brown eyes aflame with fire, 
Lustrous orbs of love's desire ; 
Can you blame me if I think 
That they half-way hold a wink? 

Fond brown eyes, I dream and sigh. 
With you far or with you nigh ! 
For the mischief is I know. 
That they have bewitched me so. 

New York City, May 27th, 1900. 



181 



GRAND BLACK EYES. 



/^ RAND black eyes aglow with love, 

Flashing light like that above 
Which from stars comes twinkling bright 
Through the depths of darkest night. 



Grand black eyes I love so well, 
Love that tongue can never tell- 
Spark of light and flame of fire 
Stir alike my soul's desire. 



Speeds the light from out the skies, 
Darts the light from grand black eyes, 
I but gaze with heart aflame — 
Stars and eyes to me the same. 

New York City, May 27th, 1900. 



182 



EYES OF BLUE. 



P> RETTY eyes of cloudless blue, 
All my heart goes out to you ; 
Eyes that bring like flowers of spring 
Fragrance, fancies blossoming. 

When on me you turn your gaze, 
Back again come boyhood's days; 
And I chase the butterflies 
By the brooks beneath blue skies. 

Eyes so earnest, steadfast, true, 
Eyes so innocent and blue; 
All the birds to you love sing — 
You're too sweet for anything. 

New York City, May 27th, 1900. 



183 



THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE CIRCUS. 



npHE White House door is open, the circus slow 

goes by, 
There Teddy with his rifle is squinting his left eye; 
Young Quentin in his war paint, and Longworth's 

shining pate, 
Behold them there all grinning — the consternation's 

great. 



The bears all walk flat-footed, the lions dare not roar; 

The "Holy Writ behemoth" sweats blood at every 
pore; 

The monkeys hush their chatter, and silent is the gnu ; 

"Oh, Heaven above, grant me one jump !" prays long- 
tailed kangaroo. 



184 



The camels hump themselves in dread, the ostrich 
hides its head; 

"I'm sure he's going to hit me !" the striped zebra said ; 

The sad-faced lank hyena tears off a fearful laugh, 

"You'll get it in the neck!" he taunts the tall giraffe. 



The hippo and the crocodile they dream of far off Nile ; 

The tapir thinks of Amazon and pensive is his smile; 

"My time is come, my tale is done!" loud shrieks 
orangoutang ; 

The cobra twists himself in knots and shows his dead- 
ly fang. 



"I wish I were in Greenland!" low moans the Polar 
bear; 

"Give me a cave," the grizzly says, "in any place, I 
swear !" 

'My murdered cubs," the brown bear cries, "way 
down in Alabam! 

'Last year he slew them, and I fled, but here I am !" 

185 



"Alas, he's going to kill me, I know it, sure as fate, 

"But this is his last term, I'm glad to state ; 

"And Billy Bryan with his smile this circus then will 

greet, 
"And all can pass in safety down this great wide 

street !" 



"You bet your bottom dollar," the elephant trumpets 

loud, 
"Next year our Ted will be there, in third term safe 

and proud; 
"For four years more he'll stand there, his rifle in his 

hand, 
"And he will shoot each circus up that passes through 

the land!" 



Crack goes the deadly rifle, falls dead the mother bear ; 
Great clouds of steam rise up and music fills the air — 
"A second elective term is his !" far swells the calliope, 
And everybody yells, "It will be true, we hope!" 

Washington, D. C, May 4th, 1908. 

186 



PRIEST AND STAR. 



'T^HIS is what a priest of Egypt 

To his people said, 
Standing in an ancient prayer-crypt 
By the Pyramid : 



"Pray to Ra, the Sun and Father, 
"Glorious, shining in the sky! 

"Of all Gods there is none other 

"Like him supreme and grand and high! 

"Swiftly through the space unending 
"Sunbeams warm to life all here ; 

"And his heart-beats now are blending 
"With all pulses far and near ; 

187 



"Vivify the Scarabeus, 

"Throb in voice of Apis grand; 
"Stir the fragrance of the Lotus — 

"Life sustain in every land. 

"Lo, the Nile, vast flowing mirror, 
"Reflects face of Ra above ! 

"In each rippled drop of splendor 
"Lies the potency of love. 

"For when falls a sun-beam on it, 
"Kiss creative, soft and sweet, 

"Quick there rises floating o^er it 

"Rainbow mist in bliss complete. 

"When the Star of Sirius shineth 
"Down again upon the tomb 

"Of Men-Ka-Ra who reclineth 

"In the silent mid-night gloom ; 

188 



"Then the countless mummies holden 

"In their cerements secure 
"Will arise in image olden — 

"Souls incarnate, blest and pure! 

"Then from Memphis to Abydis, 

"Then on land, and sea, and shore, 

"Hosts triumphant will establish 
"Egypt's glory ever more ! 

"So pray to Ra and do the duty 
"That is nearest to your hand ; 

"In re-birth 'midst wondrous beauty, 
"You shall live in Egypt land." 

And to-day that priest and people. 

Wrapped in mummied vestments there. 

Wait in patience and faith hopeful 
The Ascendance of that Star. 

189 



And the ruddy disk of Sirius, 

Through vast cycles o'er the Nile, 

Moves in radiant splendor, glorious, 
Toward the Zenith o'er the Pile. 

Paradise, Md., September i, 1909. 




190 



NIGHT AND NO MORN. 



'T^HERE is no life to come, 

And death it does end all ; 
Who wants another one, 
Why do we live at all. 

If nature had a plan 

Of life beyond the grave. 
She surely would tell man, 

And all this trouble save. 

When burns the candle out 
No spark of light remains ; 

No resurrection shout 

Can bring that flame again. 

191 



From dust to dust all life 

Goes in one weary round 

Through pain and toil and strife- 
In death will rest be found. 

I positively refuse 

To heed Old Gabriel's horn ; 
Wake you then if you choose — 

My night shall have no morn. 

Washington, D. C, February 5th, 1900. 




192 



SELF. 



A N atom I of all there is, 

A germ of all there is to be; 
Enfold I all the mysteries — 

A spark that glows eternally. 



(On a later day.) 



193 



THE SOUL OF NATURE. 



npHE whip-poor-wills and "whit-too-whoos" 

The long night fill with heart-sick "blues ;" 
The croak of frogs and moonlight white 
Bring ghastly phantoms to my sight — 
Darkness distorts the face of things. 



But song of birds and morning light 
Put fear and phantoms all to flight; 
I breathe the soul of life and peace, 
I realize the glad release — 
Day brings to view the soul of things. 

194 



The thoughts of man so often hold 
When shut from light grim terrors old ; 
But when the light of truth has sway 
All fear and sorrow pass away — 
For Nature's Soul is Light. 

Meadows, Maryland, August 17th, 1902. 



V 



195 



THE LIGHT OF LOVE. 



A CROSS the sea, across the sea, 

My heart goes out, goes out to thee. 
With loving thoughts and longing pain 
To clasp you in my arms again. 

I look beyond all ocean space, 
I look and see again your face ; 
I hear not now the wild waves roar, 
I only hear your voice once more. 

The clouds roll dark above my head, 
I look again and they are fled: 
For light of love with wondrous power 
Has changed the night to morning hour. 

196 



I am not here, but I am there 
In your sweet presence bright and fair; 
For ocean space and vaulted skies 
Are lost in light of your dear eyes. 

Liverpool, England, Christmas Night, 1900. 




197 



THE VICTORY WITHIN. 



npHROUGH greater trials you must pass 

To gain the victory at last; 
The conquest comes from steps slow made, 
Through pain, in patience — unafraid — 
'Tis yours to reach the Heights. 



The crooked ways shall be made straight, 
*Tis yours to work, and work, and wait; 
And still to strive each day by day 
To climb the upward, onward way — 
The way leads up, and up. 

198 



Thy victories are silent all; 

No loud, triumphant, trumpet call 

Shall far proclaim the end; 

But peace shall all thy steps attend- 

The Peace of Strength Within. 

Washington, D. C, March 19th, 1903. 




199 



LAW OF KIND THOUGHT. 



"D Y the law of Kindly Thought 

Will your victories be wrought; 
Speak the word and do the deed 
That from kindly thoughts proceed. 

'Tis the law, and it demands 
Strict compliance at your hands; 
Live it, breathe it, let it sway 
Life completely, day by day. 

Then the conquest, then the power, 
All self radiant hour by hour ; 
Spreading out in blessings far, 
Thought uplifting like a star. 

200 



Law of Kind Thought worketh good — 
Let it be well understood — 
From the Heights of Joy and Light 
To the Woeful Depths of Night! 

Oh, the Wisdom, Wondrous Grand! 
That has shaped out seas and land ; 
Beams of Light and Kindly Thought — 
All Creation by them wrought. 

Washington, D. C, March 20th, 1903. 




201 



REBIRTH. 



n^HE cloud that reflects 

The splendor of gold, 
It floats through the air 
In soft fleecy folds. 



The air with a soft 
And gentle caress 

Bears onward the cloud 

From East to the West. 

It is the sweet babe 

Of sunshine and rain; 

It floats and it falls — 
But it rises again. 

Washington, D. C, March 21st, 1900. 



202 



LOVE'S A MIRAGE. 



T OVE'S a mirage quivering ever 
O'er the desert sands forever; 

And it has the thirst and torture, 
Burning heat and mock of water, 
Luring onward and still onward 

Weary wretches to destruction. 

In that desert bones lie bleaching. 
Sail the buzzards o'er it seeking 

Eyes of dead men to devour; 
But the branches green by water 
Wave and beckon from afar 

To the wanderer hour by hour. 

203 



Sink the feet in sands all burning; 
But the lover's eye ne'er turning 

From the far horizon rim, 
Sees the joyous hovering vision, 
Groves and waters all Elysian — 

Oasis to soul of him. 

Heart aflame with love's delusion, 
Sky and earth heat mixed in fusion, 

Lo ! the lover yields his breath — 
And the Mirage lureth ever 
Victims o'er the sands forever 

To the thirstful, fiery death. 

Washington, D. C, June 14th, 1901. 



204 



OUT OF THE DEPTHS. 



/^UT of the depths of woe and grief, 

Out of the depths comes the belief 
That life is growth and stoppeth not 
Though our past lives are all forgot. 

Vain are the hopes of mortal life, 
Vain are the ends of mortal strife ; 
But through it all there comes the truth 
That life is neither age nor youth. 

Life goeth on, and on, and on, 
Unending are the days to come; 
Unending has been all the past. 
It lives again in cycles vast. 

205 



Then fear no future, dread no fate, 
Defy the world, be incarnate 
The Soul that is, and that shall be 
Unending through eternity. 

Chicago, 111., September 28th, 1898. 




206 



I LOVE BUT THEE. 

(Song.) 



T^ IGHT settles o'er the silent sea! 
-"■^ My heart it longs, it longs for thee ; 
I fondly dream that on my ear 
Fall strains of music sweet and clear — 

"I love but thee! I love hut thee!" 
Night settles o'er the silent sea! 



Night settles o'er the silent sea! 
My lay of love I sing to thee ; 
The song of love that stars above 
Reflect for aye from heart of love — 
"I love but thee! I love but thee!" 
Night settles o'er the silent sea! 

Washington, D. C, December 14th, 1907. 



207 



THE BEST PALL. 



/'^AN you purchase tears, or buy a sigh? 

Can you command sorrow, or trouble defy? 
If not, what's the use of all your wealth? 
It is heaped up plunder and worthless pelf. 



In vain you struggle, and strive, and save. 
You carry no riches into your grave ; 
You leave your gold, your goods and all — 
And kindly remembrance is your best pall. 

Washington, D. C, November, 1902. 



208 



THE LEAF. 



¥ IFE well spent is never lost — 

Through disaster and through sorrow 
You may reach the final end; 
But believe that on the morrow 
There will come to some dear friend 
Your life's lesson, learned at cost, 
Life well spent is never lost. 



Almost buried 'neath the mould, 
Torn and trampled on the sod. 
Lies the leaf, and rain despoils it 
Of its beauty, shape and grace; 
But its life was lived not idly — 
Burst it forth from hand of God, 
To live out and teach the lesson. 
Life well spent is never lost. 



209 



Not the darkness, but the light, 
Hold thou always in thy sight, 
For the pathway to be trod 
Leadeth ever up to God. 



Washington, D. C, November 23, 1902. 




210 



CONQUEST OF PAIN. 



/^ H, pain ! tyranny of pain ! 

That rack'st the nerves, and breast and 
brain 
Of suffering man like demons bold 
Who took delight in days of old 
In driving mortals they controlled. 



Is there relief, will come surcease 
To pain when life itself will cease? 
Will consciousness in new born state 
Of life to come new pain create 
To linger there still obstinate? 

211 



Yes pain will be in days to come 
In woeful thoughts, and long with some 
Who here are subject to the sway 
Of passion, error in their day 
Of mortal life — and in like way. 



To banish pain, banish all thought 
In present life of what is not 
Upbuilding, strong in law of right 
In life of self, in others sight — 
And pain forever conquer quite. 

December gth, 1902. 



212 



GOD'S COMFORTERS. 



'T^HE stars, they comfort me 

From depths serene on high; 
Vast peace! Eternity! 

Unending joy draws nigh! 

I look in wonder there, 

They lift my thoughts above ; 
From fear and dread despair, 

I live the thoughts of love. 

God's Comforters to man, 

In Love and Splendor given; 

When e'er the Heavens I scan 

All doubt from me is driven. 

Meadows, Maryland, October 7th, 1902. 

213 



MR. WASP AND MISS BEE. 



"KM R. WASP met Miss Bee 

'Neath the mulberry tree ; 
"Oh, Honey !" quoth he, 
"Will you marry me?" 



"So sudden!" she said, 
And tilted her head; 
"I'm busy — you know 
Mr. Drone is my beau. 

"He lives in the hive 
"In apartment five; 
"He's so sweet to me — 
"Your wife I can't be." 

214 



The Wasp circled 'round 
With wing-whirring sound 
Close after Miss Bee 
'Neath the mulberry tree. 

"I'll kill Mr. Drone 
"If he comes out alone 
"From the hive — just see 
"My glittering sting Miss Bee!" 

At sight of the sting 
She fainted, poor thing! 
Her head on the breast 

Of the Wasp's blue vest. 

\ 

The Wasp stole a kiss, 
In delirious bliss — 
I'm sorry to say 
He acted that way. 

215 



Just then came along 
A bird with his song; 
He let fall his notes— 
But the song still floats. 

He gobbled Miss Bee 
And the Wasp, you see ; 
And singing he flew 
Through the sky so blue. 

And then word by word 
What he sang I heard ; 
And this is the song 
That is floating along: 

"Too wit, too wee, 
"The mulberry tree! 
"Their dream of love sweet 
"Was left incomplete — 
"Too wit, too wee, 
"The mulberry tree!" 

Jingleville, September ii, 1909. 

216 



HELP THE BLIND. 



HY does he stand in darkness here, 
Calling to every footstep near, 
With voice all vibrant, deep with woe. 
In mournful monotone, and slow, 

"Help the blind! Help the blind!" 

Is it for wrongs that he has done 
In present life, or prior one; 
In days of Now, or dim age past; 
That to this end he comes at last — 

"Help the blind! Help the blind!" 

217 



He draws his bow across the strings, 
A sobbing chord the mystery brings ; 
Far floats his mournful voice again 
Bearing to all the sad refrain — 

"Help the blind! Help the blind!" 

What Law is this that blots out light 
And makes our brother's life all night 
While smile the skies on us so kind ; 
What Fate is this that smites him blind- 
"Help the blind! Help the blind!" 

Washington, D. C, February 19th, 1908. 



218 



THE UNDERTOW. 



TTE'S falser than the grey salt sea 
That back recedes so steadily 

With cruel undertow; 
His bouyant arms outstretched in joy, 
His promises my thoughts employ — 

He lures, and on I go. 



My heart it follows, follows him. 

Beyond the darkened, heaving rim 
Of restless horizon; 

The billows beckon me away. 

With murmuring voice they call by day- 
Black night doth draw me on. 

219 



No pain, no shame, nor any fate 

Can change or make my love abate, 

For him I welcome woe; 
In joy I rest on his broad breast, 
Flow tide to East flow tide to West- 
Engulf me undertow! 

Washington, D. C, April 29th, 1906. 




220 



CREATIVE THOUGHT. 



T WONDER what I then shall be 

When freed I am from mystery, 
And know, at last, this Self of mine 
That dim or bright must ever shine 
Through ages vast and non-ending. 



I wonder if my soul will be 

Superbly grand in majesty; 

Or will it dulled and marred by sin 

Be fouled by memories held in 

The despoiled Temple of my Thought. 

221 



The answer surely can be found 
In all that lives the globe around; 
All life that is, and that shall live, 
Pre-shadows Self, slow creative 
By Thought, and Thought alone. 

Washington, D. C, September 6th, 1901. 




222 



LOVE IS COMPLETE. 



T OVE is complete when senses fail. 

Love is complete beyond the veil 
Of present life and thought. 



Love is complete when icy death 
Blinds sight and stifles earthly breath 
In darkness of the tomb. 

Love is complete though stars fade out, 
Love fills eternal space about, 
For love is life and light. 

Meadows. Maryland, October i8th, 1902. 



223 



OLD HOSS EYE. 



«T RECKON not!" Old Hoss Eye said, 
Shaking sombrero back on head, 
"I reckon not! I ain't no cur, 
"And I won't see wrong done to her ! 
"You bet yer life! By Christ, I swar! 
"I do bizness on the squar'!" 



Far muttered rage in thunder told 
Behind the peaks sun-tipped in gold! 
And shapeless purple shadows lie 
Upon the plains as night draws nigh. 

224 



"I 'low no man to sinervate 

"That I'd do dirt to my old mate ; 

"Me and Old Jim tuk up the claim, 

"A prospec' hole, and worked the same 

"The year the young gal's mother died- 

*' You say no more dog-gon-yer hide !" 

A glinting look from Old Hoss Eye, 
A jagged flash across the sky; 
And in the distance coming near 
Old Jim and daughter there appear. 



The "Tenderfoot" with artful smile 
Holds up the flask in tempting style; 
"But really now, you know, my man, 
"I never had a thought nor plan 
"Of harming her — now don't tell Jim- 
"I don't see how you get this whim." 

225 



With "chaw" tossed out upon the sand | 
Old Hoss Eye takes the flask in hand; ! 
A gurgling sound down bearded throat — 
The sky with glory is afloat. 



11. 



The moonlight floods the mining "shack," 
The pine boughs sigh in canon black ; 
Two shadows flit in silence swift — 
Two broncos wait beyond the drift. 



"I can not, will not go with you; 
"What shame is this you'd have me do? 
"I love you, love you, as you know, 
"But then I love my father so ; 
"My mother's grave I can not leave — 
"Kiss me good-bye, and do not grieve!' 



226 



Two shadows now in close embrace, 
The moonlight shines on upturned face; 
Soft vows of love and whispers sweet- 
Two shadows fly on broncos fleet. 



They dash adown the winding trail— 
The mountain peaks aghast and pale— 
What gleams behind yon poplar tree — 
Crack comes the doom that is to be — 
Falls "Tenderfoot" with death-drawn sigh- 
"I'm on the squar' !" says Old Hoss Eye. 

Dead-Eye Gulch, November gth, 1907. 






227 



THE OLD MAN'S DREAM. 



TT kinder seems 

To be a dream ; 
Things have slipped by 
And somehow I 
Can't always tell 
Or know as well 
As once I did. 

The little gal, 
The fust one, wal ! 
Sometimes at night. 
So cute and tight 
Her chubby fists 
Are all atwist 
In my old beard. 

228 



And yet it's ben 
Mor'n five times ten 
Years since she died; 
And by her side 
Her ma, poor thing! 
Long mouldering, 
Awaits the trump. 

The other ones, 
Dar'ters and sons, 
Nine more in all. 
Grew fine and tall 
As tasseled corn — 
No children born. 
Smarter than they. 

I'm grand-pa now 
To, wal, I vow! 
Some forty three — 
Yes, let me see. 
It's forty-five 
To-day alive 
And full of fun. 

229 



They all pet me 
Whene'er they see 
Me anywhere; 
But that fust gal — 
What's that "a dream" 
May be! it seems 
Like one wal! wal! 

Washington, D. C, April 5th, 1906. 




230 



LIFE BEGUN. 



A ROUND my bed stood wife and child, 
Tearful, all pale with woe ; 
The doctor said in whisper mild, 
"Too late, he soon will go !" 



I knew not what it was he meant, 
I felt so strong and free; 

With hand on pulse o'er me he bent — 
And yet he spoke of me! 



"Oh, say not so !" my wife sobbed low ; 

My child cried loud in grief. 
"He's gone V the doctor answered slow, 

"Death brings to pain relief !" 



231 



He pressed the lids down o'er my eyes, 
My hands he crossed on breast ; 

No darkness came, to my surprise. 
But only light and rest. 

I wondered then, I wonder now, 
Why wept my wife and son ; 

The death that settled o'er my brow 
Was simply life begun. 

Philadelphia, Penn., May 20th, 1907. 




232 



THE PROPHET'S VOICE. 



T THE prophet, here I stand 

For the good in every land ; 
For the truth in heart of God 
To be spread all space abroad; 
I, the prophet, here I stand 
For the good in every land. 



I, myself, shall never see 
What is here foretold to be ; 
But I lift on high my voice 
Bidding all the world rejoice; 
I, the prophet, here I stand 
For the good in every land ! 

233 



Comes through me the living word, 
Beaming light wherever heard — 
"Love shall bring eternal peace, 
War shall soon forever cease;" 
I, the prophet, here I stand 
For the good in every land ! 



And my Voice shall ringing go 
Making hearts to throb and glow- 

"Love shall bring eternal peace, 
War shall soon forever cease;" 
I, the prophet, here I stand 
For the good in every land ! 

Washington, D. C, March 22nd, 1907. 



234 



THE TEMPERANCE WAY. 



1 CARE not what you say 

About the Temperance Way ; 
But if great thought you choose, 
Fill up with good old "Booze". 



Thought is creative power 
And runs from hour to hour ; 
And we are truly Gods 
With strength to down all odds. 

At least that's what I think 
Whene'er I take a drink 
Of whiskey, rum or gin — 
For then my thoughts begin : 

235 



My rags just disappear 
And diamonds sparkle clear 
On finger and on shirt — 
And falls from me all dirt. 



No more I am a "bum", 
For then I make things hum; 
I am a millionaire — 
Free as a bird in air. 



But when the "booze" is gone 
And morning comes along, 
With groans I often say 
Show me the "Temperance Way!' 

Washington, D. C, September ii, 1912. 



236 



A WOMAN'S LOVE. 



A WOMAN walked in grief, 
Her head desponding lo^ 
"My woe will never cease", 



Moaned she, "If now you go 

She bound my marriage tie 
To be a faithful wife ; 

Her husband oft would sigh 
When jealousy was rife. 

Her lover young and fond, 

With wildly beating heart, 

Urged her to break the bond. 
With him to swift depart. 

237 



"We'll take the ship right now, 
"We'll cross the ocean wide; 

"Life will be heaven, I vow, 

"With you close by my side !" 

"Oh, God ! I love thee well, 
"I long to go with thee — 

"But we must say farewell, 
"It cannot be, cannot be ! 

"To-morrow is the day 

"He buys my new Spring hat; 
"Good bye! Farewell! I say, 

"I cannot give up that!" 

Then sprang that youth in air. 
Cracked heels together twice, 

"You have no heart, I swear, 
"Or it is solid ice I" 

238 



"Oh, yes, I have a heart, 
"I love you, and all that ; 

"Kiss me, and let us part — 
"For I must have that hat!' 

Washington, D. C, March 4th, 1912. 




2S» 



LOVE'S WAY. 



T LOVE thee as the Sea oft times loves the Shore, 

Rushing with imperious ardor on the beach, 
In sullenness retiring thence once more. 

Making the slipping sands to weep at the wide 
breach 

Of love. 



I love thee e'en as storm and wind and gale 
Boldly assaulting every barrier of defense 

That tremulously repels lest love prevail 

O'er maiden fears, and then go sated hence 
With love. 

240 



For love is like the tides that roar and swell amain, 

Submerging shores and shaping continents at will, 
And then all spent and wearied going back again 

Around the globe to wanton lands to take fresh 
fill 

Of love. 

So say not "nay", but yield to-day and now. 
Give o'er the coyness, thy virgin alarms ; 

And know that Nature's law ordains by force and vow 
Majestic love shall have within thine arms 
Love's way ! 

Washington, D, C, March 7th, 1912. 



241 



THE ROCKY SLOPE. 



'Y' ^^ never know what you can do, 

The only way is to try ; 
And do your best to put it through, 
And never doubt nor sigh. 



The road may be rocky and tough. 

But climb the best you can ; 
And don't sit down, nor cry "Enough!" 

"Brace up !" and be a man ! 

Some day you will laugh and tell your friends 

How you struggled and fought ; 
And how the Power of Will transcends 

Hindrance of what is sought. 

242 



And so I say do not give way, 
Toil on and keep up hope ; 

And bear the burden day by day 
Straight up the rocky slope! 

Washington, D. C, December gth, 1912. 




243 



THE HERITAGE. 



QPEECHLESS I gaze at the Stars, 

Speechless in wonder and awe; 
Through measureless space that bars 
All ken of finite law. 



The thought of Manifest Power, 

Transcendent, and vast, supreme, 

Eternal from hour to hour, 
Holds me as in a dream. 

And I close my eyes and look 
Deep in this heart of mine. 

And I read, as in a book — 

"The Heavens are surely Divine !" 

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Comes then a Voice to me there, 

"Thou too, Oh Soul, art from God, 

"For to you the Heavens declare 
"His glory thus spread abroad!" 

Washington, D. C, December 4th, 19 12. 




245 



HER ANSWER. 



T AM thinking, dreaming, musing, 
And my heart goes out to you; 

And something there is accusing 

Deep within my conscience true — 

For the law of right seems broken 

By my love before unspoken, 
And I know not what to do. 

Not the Law by Heaven given, 
But the law of man made here ; 

"Bonds", it says, "may not be riven, 

"Though they chafe and gall and sear- 

"Lav/ that is but base deception, 

"Shrivelling heart's most pure affection, 
"You must yield to year by year !" 

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Hard it is to go against it — 

Hard to keep up outward show — 

And this law it claims full forfeit, 
All I would be to forego; 

Smothers inward peace serene, 

Makes each caress seem unclean. 
Changes blessing to deep woe. 

In this world all life is holden 
To the custom round about ; 

Whoso breaketh fashion olden 

Will most surely be cast out — 

Basest slander, scorn unbounded, 

Finger pointing shame unfounded; 
Never faith and always doubt! 

I can see a Star all glowing 

That uplifts my soul with love; 

Shall I follow you well knowing 
That fond light so far above 

Gives no guidance for our feet 

Where earth statute reigns complete? 
If you ask it, — yes, my love! 

Bide-a-Wee, Maryland, May 5th, 1912. 



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THE LIVING WORD. 



TO write some word that yet shall live 
When all my life is done, 
What greater service can I give— 
If be it noble one. 



Since all of breath and pulse and power 
That stir the mortal frame 

Bespeak the presence hour by hour 
Of purely transient flame! 



And all I do and hope to do 
In realm of mortal sense, 

In time to come will perish too 
When I am gone forth hence ; 



Then let me write the living word 

To throb unceasingly. 
Through all the ages to be heard 

In solemn mystery — 

And lo, the word is "GOD !' 



Philadelphia, Penn., August 8th, 1910. 



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WHAT WROTE HE IN THE SAND? 



TAT" HAT wrote he in the sand 

Before the people there? 
Was it Divine command, 

Or was it simply prayer? 



"He stooped and wrote," they say. 
Whilst stood the guilty one ; 

And gathered round where they 
Who sought to cast the stone. 

To Him they brought the girl 
With beauty all abloom; 

Dishevelled gown and curl, 
Expecting death her doom. 

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"Master, in that vile sin — 

"We found in passion's act — 

'This shameless one has been 

"Condemned by shameless fact! 

"The law that Moses wrote 

"We stand to here maintain!" 

And then to Him they quote 
The penalty again. 

He looked upon the face 

Of sobbing womanhood ; 
His gaze bore not a trace 

Of aught they understood. 

He spake to them no word, 
The silence grew intense, 

Her sobs again were heard — 

They deemed them mere pretense. 

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He wrote some wondrous line 

In evanescent sand, 
In graceful script, and fine. 

Free flowing from His hand. 

Then rising made reply, 

"Let him who has no sin 

"Cast stone that she may die — 
"The fate of sin begin !" 

They marvelled, and they fled 

From Shining Presence swift; 

"Go, sin no more!" He said — 
Her heart the words uplift. 

What wrote He in the sand, 

What thought from Heights Above ; 
We may not understand — 

But was it — "God is love !" 

Bide-a-Wee, Maryland, May ist, 19 12. 

251 



'KIDS" AND "SQUARE MEN". 



"V^OU certain are a squint-eyed chump, 
For you lost the game last night ; 
Just when the luck was sure to jump 
Straight to our side all right. 



You didn't see when I threw down 
And swept the discards up, 

You wouldn't look at my slight frown — 
You were blind as a two-day pup! 



Ten-spot and Jack, two Queens and Ace — 
And the deal you knew was mine ! 

One Queen was dark, the rest light face— 
And I always deal so fine ! 

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Did you think I'd fail to "flip" a King 
To fill "straight-flush" in view; 

With a discard plain as anything 
As a "pardner" ever knew! 

And so I say you should understood 

And dropped out the game just then ; 

But you "butted in" — and were no good — 

To h — 1 with "kids" — give me "square men"! 

Tres Hermanas, August 2nd, 1907. 



253 



AUGUSTUS AND ANNA. 



OHE munches peanuts with a smile, 

Her eyes shine with delight ; 
"I'll stay, Augustus, quite a while, 
With voiu 'till late at night." 



There sits sweet Anna perched up high 
On seat near canvass roof. 

Whilst round the ring the horses fly 
With dancing, prancing, hoof. 



ANNA: 

"Oh, see the elephant walk the rope 
And balance with his trunk ; 

It would be dreadful if it broke — 
My Lord ! that clown is drunk ! 

254 



"I never saw in all my days 

A woman dressed like that — 

A pair of slippers — low-cut stays — 
And nothing but a hat!" 



AUGUSTUS : 

"But then you know, my precious pet,' 

Augustus smiles in glee, 
"She rides the horse all right, you bet, 

And jumps so gracefully." 



ANNA: 

"I'm going home — you stay and stare — 
She just suits you, no doubt — 

Oh, gracious me ! see up in air 
The trapeze-man swing out! 



"He caught that other swing with ease 
And stands up there so grand; 

A handsome man — look, look quick, please- 
To me he waves his hand ! 



255 



"I like it here! Ah, lemonade! 

Yes, I'll have some, my dear ! 
Sit close to me, I am afraid. 

Those roaring lions I fear." 



And now at last they go around, 
A-holding hands so nice. 

All through the tented circus ground- 
And all same ticket price. 



They see the monkeys in the cage. 

The marmadillo, too ; 
The striped tigress in a rage. 

The long-tailed kangaroo. 



ANNA: 

"Great heavens, what a mouth to meet, 

The hippopotamus! 
You say you know a mouth so sweet — 

Look out ! They're watching us ! 

256 



"The rider-woman you despise, 
The trapeze-man I hate; 

We both were fooling, both told lies — 
It's true what we now state." 



And as the years come circling round 

Augustus, Anna too. 
Will torment each with love profound 

As married folks all do. 

Washington, D. C, May loth, 1913. 




257 



THE HUSBAND BEREAVED. 



npHE Good Wife always milks her cow 

And cheerfully doth sing; 
She feeds the chickens, cats and sow — 
And does most everything. 

She doesn't care to vote at all, 
And makes good apple pies ; 

She cuts the wood both big and small, 
And never scolds nor lies. 

And when she dies and goes On High 
What will the "Good Man" do? 

He'll loaf around and smoke and sigh — 
And seek a woman new. 

Langdon, Maryland, April 3d, 1912. 



258 






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